Compare towns
Plainfield vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($309k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.