Compare towns
Athens vs Plainfield vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Newbury has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Athens | Plainfield | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431 |
1,016Highest |
393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
48.3±14Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±6.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$76,250±$23kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Newbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$275,900±$28kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,259±$401Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,943 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.