Compare towns
Heath vs Plainfield vs Reading
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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Plainfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
616Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Reading 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 | — | — | #50 of 282 in MA |
| 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.