Compare towns
Needham vs Plainville vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Needham | Plainville | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
17,551 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Plainville High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.