Compare towns
Dudley 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
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Heath | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
765 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest 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+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Heath and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
— | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.