Compare towns
Sutton vs Plainfield vs Douglas vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Plainfield | Douglas | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
616Lowest |
9,207 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Plainfield 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 42% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| 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 7% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
| 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±$401 32% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Douglas and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Douglas | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Douglas High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.