Compare towns
Preston vs Sutton vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Preston | Sutton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,452 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Preston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Preston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.