What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Salem	Plainfield
People
Population	1,054Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA
	New Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±6.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Plainfield and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,688±$19kHighest 23% below MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
	New Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,000±$40kHighest 36% below MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
	New Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA	$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA
	Plainfield and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,509Highest 25% below MA	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	New Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 20% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	19.4%±8Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.