Compare towns
Heath vs Plainfield vs Williamsburg
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 homeowners (98%).
Williamsburg has the most expensive homes ($403k 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 | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
616Lowest |
2,694Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
50±2.4Lowest 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%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Williamsburg 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% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest 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% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Plainfield 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 |
$104,792±$21kHighest about the MA average |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$403,100±$37kHighest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$5,761Highest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older 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%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Williamsburg |
| 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.