Compare towns
Ashfield vs Marion vs Wareham 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).
Marion has the highest household income ($143k).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Ashfield | Marion | Wareham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893 |
5,310 |
23,302Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
53.8±4 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
| Ashfield and Marion 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% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Marion 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% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest 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% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Wareham 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 |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
| Wareham 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 |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #141 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Marion | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.