Compare towns
Plainfield vs Gardner vs Ashfield vs Heath
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 homeowners (98%).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ashfield has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
Heath has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Gardner | Ashfield | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
21,148Highest |
1,893 |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
| Heath and Ashfield 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 |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
— |
| Plainfield and Gardner 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Gardner 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% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.