Compare towns
Plainville vs Salem vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Plainville | Salem | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
44,795Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Salem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Plainville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Salem | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.