Compare towns
Sutton vs Washington 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
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Washington | Plainfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,676Lowest |
15,141Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton 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% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%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% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% 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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 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. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.1Lowest |
10.3 |
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.