Compare towns
Sutton vs Hanson vs Plainfield vs Douglas
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%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Hanson | Plainfield | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,660 |
15,141Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Douglas 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% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Plainfield School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Plainfield High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.7Highest |
10.3 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.