Compare towns
Dudley vs Gardner vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Dudley | Gardner | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Gardner | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gardner High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.5 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.