What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).

Cummington has the highest household income ($104k).

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	Plainfield	Cummington
People
Population	616Lowest	902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA	55.1±6.7Highest 38% above MA
	Cummington 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%	11.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	32.2%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Cummington 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±7.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Cummington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA	$104,167±$32kHighest about the MA average
	Cummington 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±$47kHighest 45% below MA	$300,600±$32kLowest 47% below MA
	Plainfield and Cummington 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	$825±$365Lowest 53% below MA
	Plainfield and Cummington 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	$3,875Lowest 35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	22.8%±27.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Plainfield and Cummington 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%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minLowest 30% above MA	39 minHighest 34% above MA
Work from home	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%	24.9%±10Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield and Cummington 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.