Compare towns

Thompson vs Sherborn 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

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureThompsonSherbornPlainfield
People
Population
9,337
4,427Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
42.8±2.3
10% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
29.2%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.3%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
82.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$1,026,800±$72kHighest
209% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,338±$316Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±26.3
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
49.1%±7.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #130 of 149 in CT #53 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Sherborn Plainfield School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
—
10.3Highest
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.