Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stow vs Hawley
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%).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($730k median).
Hawley has the shortest commute (31 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 | Stow | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
7,165Highest |
277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
56.8±7.2Highest 42% above MA |
| Hawley 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±10Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Stow 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$87,500±$26k 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$309,600±$38k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
— |
| Stow and Plainfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,097Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Hawley 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±12.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — |
| 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.