Compare towns
Heath vs Maynard vs Plainfield vs Colrain
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 most people working from home (31.7%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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 | Heath | Maynard | Plainfield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
10,712Highest |
616Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Maynard 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Maynard 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±$45k 48% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Maynard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Maynard 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | — | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.