Compare towns
Ashfield vs Ogunquit vs Plainfield vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most renters (14.5% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
Petersham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
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 | Ogunquit | Plainfield | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893Highest |
1,379 |
616Lowest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4 51% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.6±9.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7 45% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Ogunquit 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 about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20k 37% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 20% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$309,000±$47kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,292±$558 9% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,458Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.