Compare towns
Barre vs Heath vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Barre | Heath | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
765 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Barre and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Barre and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
— | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Plainfield 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | — |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.