Compare towns
Paxton vs Plainfield vs Sutton
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002 |
2,522Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Paxton 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. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 129% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Plainfield School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.