Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hardwick 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 homeowners (98%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Hardwick | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$80,833±$16kHighest 22% below MA |
| Ashfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
| Ashfield and Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
9.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None 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.