Compare towns
Heath vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
32,459Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.