Compare towns

Whitman vs Sutton 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

Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.

MeasureWhitmanSuttonPlainfield
People
Population
15,295Highest
9,452Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
40.4±1.8
4% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Whitman and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,933±$14k
35% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$472,700±$12k
42% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,824
87% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #191 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Whitman-Hanson Sutton Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Sutton High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Highest
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.