Compare towns
Ashfield vs Hardwick vs Plainfield
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).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Ashfield | Hardwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
2,684Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
| Ashfield and Plainfield 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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±$16kHighest 22% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Ashfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
| Ashfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.