What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sutton	Plainville
People
Population	2,239Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Plainville 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	—	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.