Compare towns
Sutton vs Winchester vs Plainville 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).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Winchester | Plainville | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,284 |
17,551Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Plainville 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% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Douglas 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. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above 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. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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. |
$4,780Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Plainville High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.7 |
11.4 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.