Compare towns
Ashfield vs Monroe 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 most expensive homes ($401k median).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Monroe | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Highest |
122Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | -2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
| Monroe and Ashfield 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% |
16.4%±28 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Monroe 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% |
31.1%±27.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Monroe 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% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 |
— | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Ashfield and Plainfield 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 |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
— | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield 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% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | — |
| High school 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.