Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barre vs Heath vs Ashfield
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 kids (19% under 18).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Ashfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Barre | Heath | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
5,572Highest |
765 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield and Heath 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% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Barre 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% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Heath 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% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Barre and Heath 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 |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
| Ashfield and Barre 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 |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
— | $1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Plainfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 26% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield 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% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Plainfield 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.