Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hatfield 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
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Hardwick | Hatfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
3,325 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Hatfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.