Compare towns
Cummington 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
Cummington has the highest household income ($104k).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Cummington | Heath | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 902Highest |
765 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±6.7Highest 38% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
| Cummington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.2%±3 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±7.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cummington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,167±$32kHighest about the MA average |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Cummington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,600±$32k 47% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA |
| Plainfield and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $825±$365Lowest 53% below MA |
— | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,875Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±27.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 34% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.9%±10Lowest 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. | |||
| 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.