Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hingham 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%).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Hingham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
24,283Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% 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%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Heath 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hingham | — |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.