Compare towns
Peru vs Plainfield vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($91k).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Peru | Plainfield | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Highest |
616 |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA |
| Peru and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18kHighest 13% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
| Peru and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Plainfield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainfield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
98% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.