Compare towns
Whately vs Plainfield vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Whately | Plainfield | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499 |
1,314Lowest |
3,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
35.1±1.9Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Whately and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whately and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whately and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
25.5%±9.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$68,083±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$458,100±$52kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Sunderland and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,672±$151Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 61% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,611Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
42%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately and Sunderland 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 | — | — | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | — | Sunderland |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.