Compare towns
Sutton vs Bristol vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Sutton | Bristol | Plainfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
61,462Highest |
15,141 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Bristol School District | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bristol Central High School | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.0Highest |
10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.