Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Plainfield vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Boylston has the most expensive homes ($579k 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 | Sturbridge | Sutton | Plainfield | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,443Lowest |
9,452 |
15,141Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 23% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boylston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,568±$34k 63% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$140,962±$28k 75% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225 42% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410 106% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Plainfield School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Plainfield High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.