Compare towns
Sutton vs Quinebaug 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 highest household income ($147k).
Quinebaug has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Quinebaug | Plainfield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,193Lowest |
15,141 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Northbridge 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. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% 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. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,209 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest 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. |
1960Lowest 20 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Plainfield School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Plainfield High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.