Compare towns
Ashfield vs Plainfield vs Townsend
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
616Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Townsend 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend and Ashfield 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 |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.