Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Lee | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
1,314 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Lee | — | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — |
| 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.