Compare towns
Sutton vs Johnston 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%).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Johnston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
29,835Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Johnston 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% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston 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% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Johnston 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. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Sutton 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. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Plainville 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | Johnston | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Johnston Senior High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.