Compare towns
Heath vs Lenox vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
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.
| Measure | Heath | Lenox | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
5,079Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
| Lenox and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Lenox and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lenox and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest 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 | — | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lenox | — |
| High school in town | — | Lenox Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6 |
— |
| 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.