Compare towns
Heath vs Plainfield vs Rowe
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 highest household income ($99k).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% 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.
| Measure | Heath | Plainfield | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Highest |
616 |
453Lowest |
| 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±9.5 27% above MA |
48.9±6.4Lowest 22% 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe 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%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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 |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
| Heath and Rowe 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 |
$309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% 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±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe 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 |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.