Compare towns
Kingston vs Plainfield vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Kingston has the highest household income ($151k).
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 | Kingston | Plainfield | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,027Highest |
616Lowest |
5,910 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±3.9Lowest 16% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
50.4±3.4 26% above MA |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Kingston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,876±$13k 15% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$150,886±$30kHighest 45% above MA |
| Kingston and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,600±$30kHighest 9% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$589,900±$36k 5% above MA |
| Kingston and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,159±$244Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,603±$539Highest 9% below MA |
| Kingston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,650Highest 28% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,660 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
54.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Kingston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.3%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Kingston 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 | #99 of 282 in MA | — | #99 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Kingston · Silver Lake | — | — |
| High school in town | Silver Lake Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.