Compare towns
Plainfield vs Quinebaug vs Sutton vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Quinebaug has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Plainfield | Quinebaug | Sutton | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
1,193Lowest |
9,452 |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Sutton | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.