What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cummington has the highest household income ($104k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cummington	Plainfield
People
Population	902Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±6.7Highest 38% above MA	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA
	Cummington and Plainfield 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%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.2%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Cummington and Plainfield 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%	52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±7.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Lowest 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	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
	Cummington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$300,600±$32kLowest 47% 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	$4,458Highest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.8%±27.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Plainfield and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 34% above MA	38 minLowest 30% above MA
Work from home	24.9%±10Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield and Cummington 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

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.