Compare towns
Sutton vs Brookfield 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
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,460Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainville 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% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | Brookfield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | 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.