Compare towns
Plainfield vs Townsend vs Heath vs Warwick
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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Townsend | Heath | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
9,100Highest |
765 |
776 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
| Heath and Warwick 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
— | $1,367±$163 22% below MA |
| Townsend and Warwick 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — | Warwick |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.