Compare towns
Buckland vs Plainfield vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Buckland | Plainfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,036Lowest |
15,141Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Buckland and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buckland and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25k 3% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761Highest 53% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Buckland and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Buckland 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Plainfield School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | Plainfield High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.