Compare towns
Sutton vs Stoneham vs Plainfield
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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Stoneham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
23,355Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Stoneham 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | Stoneham | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Stoneham High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.