Compare towns
Acton vs Heath vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Acton | Heath | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
765 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
— | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
| Acton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Heath 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.