Compare towns
Paxton vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Paxton | Plainfield | Sutton | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
15,141 |
9,452 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Holden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$141,923±$11k 76% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$470,700±$13k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,648±$214Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Holden and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,359 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #219 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Plainfield School District | Sutton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.6 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.