Compare towns

Sutton vs Voluntown 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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.

MeasureSuttonVoluntownPlainfield
People
Population
9,452
2,604Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
48.3±1.7Highest
24% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Voluntown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Voluntown 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%
26.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
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±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$101,964±$25k
26% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Sutton and Voluntown 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.
$356,100±$16k
7% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,166±$191Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Highest
15% 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
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,955
59% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±24.3
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.9%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #105 of 282 in MA #53 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Sutton Voluntown School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Sutton High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
—
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.