Compare towns
Hawley vs Plainfield vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hawley has the highest household income ($88k).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Hawley | Plainfield | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 277Lowest |
616 |
1,118Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.8±7.2 42% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±10 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±5.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$26kHighest 16% below MA |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,600±$38kHighest 45% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Plainfield and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,097Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±12.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.