Compare towns
Plainville vs Sutton vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lunenburg has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Plainville | Sutton | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
2,239Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Kearsarge Regional School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.