What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Heath	Plainfield
People
Population	765Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA	50.6±9.5Lowest 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%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Heath 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%	29.5%±7.1Lowest 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%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
	Heath and Plainfield 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	$309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA
	Plainfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,292±$558 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Lowest 26% below MA	$4,458Highest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100 MA: 51.8%	40%±100 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 20% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.