Compare towns
Heath vs Plainfield vs Upton
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%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
616Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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%±4.9Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Plainfield and Upton 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | — | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.