Compare towns
Plainville vs Whitman 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%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Whitman | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
15,295Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest 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%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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 about the MA average |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Plainville 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 |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Plainville and Whitman 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Plainville 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.