Compare towns
Heath vs Plainfield vs Rowley
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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
616Lowest |
6,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
50±6.3Lowest 25% 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley 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±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | — | — | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Triton |
| 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.