Compare towns
Lenox vs Plainfield vs Rockport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
Rockport has the most expensive homes ($746k 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 | Lenox | Plainfield | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079 |
616Lowest |
7,009Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
59.7±3.3 49% above MA |
| Lenox and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | $106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$96,250±$15k 7% below MA |
| Lenox and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$746,100±$47kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,851±$219Highest 5% above MA |
| Rockport and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 12% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,215Highest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
71.1%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rockport and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Rockport 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | — | #124 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | — | Rockport |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | — | Rockport Middle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
— | 8.3Highest |
| 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.