What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Heath
People
Population	616Lowest	765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA	53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA
	Heath 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%	13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Heath 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%	33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Heath 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%	46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Heath 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	$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA
	Heath 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	$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA
	Plainfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$558 27% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,458Highest 26% below MA	$4,438Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100 MA: 51.8%	40%±100 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest MA: 10%	6.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	35 minLowest 20% above MA
Work from home	26.2%±8.8Lowest 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.
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.