Compare towns
Sutton vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% 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 | Sturbridge | Plainfield | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,443Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
19.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
55.8%Highest 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% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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 82% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34k 63% 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. |
$418,400±$29k 26% 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. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Douglas 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. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 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. |
32 min 20% 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% |
14%±9.4 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Plainfield School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Plainfield High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.