Compare towns
Sutton vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster 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.
| Measure | Sutton | Westminster | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,374Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Westminster 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. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.6Highest |
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.

