Compare towns
Plainfield vs Topsfield vs Tolland
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).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Tolland has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | Topsfield | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
6,564Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
51.7±7.2Highest 29% above MA |
| Tolland 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±5.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Tolland 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Topsfield 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$106,250±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$355,700±$22k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Plainfield and Topsfield 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 |
$2,714Lowest 55% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Topsfield 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Topsfield | — |
| 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.