Compare towns
Sutton vs Topsfield vs Plainfield vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Topsfield | Plainfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,564Lowest |
15,141Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Upton 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. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Topsfield | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.