Compare towns
Adams vs Plainville vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k 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.
| Measure | Adams | Plainville | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
17,551Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Adams and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S. |
$981±$63 31% below U.S. |
| Plainville and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Brookfield 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.