Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Sterling
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Plainfield | Sturbridge | Sutton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
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.