Compare towns
Plainfield vs Adams vs Hawley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Adams has the most renters (37.9% rent).
Hawley has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Plainfield | Adams | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
8,074Highest |
277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
47.3±3.3Lowest 18% above MA |
56.8±7.2Highest 42% above MA |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$87,500±$26kHighest 16% below MA |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$309,600±$38kHighest 45% below MA |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
— |
| Plainfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$4,097 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±12.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Hawley 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 | — | #230 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hoosac Valley Regional | — |
| 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.