Compare towns
Plainfield vs Oakham 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).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Ashfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Oakham | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,639 |
1,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% 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%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Oakham and Ashfield 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Oakham and Ashfield 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 |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | |||
| 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.