Compare towns
Heath vs Plainfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Highest |
616 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Heath 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% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Heath 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% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Heath and Washington 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 |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Plainfield 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 | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest 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 | 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.