Compare towns
Pepperell vs Plainville vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Pepperell | Plainville | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Lowest |
17,551Highest |
15,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Middlesex | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.