Compare towns
Sutton vs Northbridge 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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Northbridge | Plainfield | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
16,458Highest |
15,141 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
36.9% 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% |
4.3%±1.3 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. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821 55% 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% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 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. |
31 min 17% 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% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.8 |
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.