Compare towns
Hull vs Lenox vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Hull | Lenox | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Highest |
5,079 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
| Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Hull and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Highest about the MA average |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hull and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hull | Lenox | — |
| High school in town | Hull High | Lenox Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.