Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stockbridge 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 kids (19% under 18).
Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Stockbridge | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,056Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Ashfield 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% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Stockbridge 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 |
$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Plainfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,652 22% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±27 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Stockbridge 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% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stockbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Mohawk Trail |
| 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.