Compare towns
Sutton vs Pepperell 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%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Pepperell | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
11,663 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Sutton 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | North Middlesex | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.