Compare towns
Plainfield vs Needham vs Cummington
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%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Cummington has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Cummington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
32,459Highest |
902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
55.1±6.7Highest 38% above MA |
| Cummington 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% |
11.6%±4.8Lowest 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% |
32.2%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cummington 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±7.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cummington 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,167±$32k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$300,600±$32kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$825±$365Lowest 53% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,875Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
22.8%±27.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 34% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.9%±10Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| 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.