Compare towns
Hopedale vs Plainfield vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Boylston has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Hopedale | Plainfield | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,027 |
15,141Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±5.2 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopedale and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopedale and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,722±$19k 43% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,100±$28k 40% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,788±$223 27% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopedale and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston and Hopedale 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 | #125 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hopedale | Plainfield School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopedale Jr Sr High | Plainfield High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.3 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.