Compare towns
Ashfield vs Dalton vs Plainfield vs Leverett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Leverett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Ashfield | Dalton | Plainfield | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893 |
6,256Highest |
616Lowest |
1,608 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
56±6.4 40% above MA |
| Ashfield and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$435,500±$35kHighest 23% below MA |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,389±$135Highest 21% below MA |
| Leverett and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$6,779Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
10% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Leverett and Plainfield 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Central Berkshire | — | Leverett |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.