Compare towns
Sutton vs Holbrook vs Plainfield vs Northbridge
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%).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Holbrook | Plainfield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
11,380 |
15,141 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Northbridge 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% |
19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Holbrook 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. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Holbrook 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. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Holbrook 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. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainfield 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. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Holbrook 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Holbrook | Plainfield School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Holbrook Middle High School | Plainfield High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.