Compare towns
Heath vs Marblehead 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 the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Heath | Marblehead | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
20,413Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% 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 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Marblehead 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
| Marblehead and Plainfield 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Heath 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Marblehead | — |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.