Compare towns
Sutton vs Dighton vs Plainville 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Dighton has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Dighton | Plainville | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,193Lowest |
17,551Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.7±2.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above 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% |
21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dighton and Sturbridge 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Sturbridge 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% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,646±$19k 69% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above 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. |
$501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,405±$192Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Dighton and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,452 107% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 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. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bristol County Agricultural High | Plainville High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.9 |
11.4 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.