Compare towns
Plainfield vs Oakham 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%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Oakham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,639Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.6%±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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Oakham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% 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 | $4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school 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.