Compare towns
Ashfield vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Leverett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Dedham | Plainfield | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893 |
25,237Highest |
616Lowest |
1,608 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% 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% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Plainfield 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$104,688±$18k about the MA average |
| Dedham and Leverett 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,389±$135 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
10% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 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 |
29 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dedham | — | Leverett |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.