Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Warwick has the most expensive homes ($349k median).
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 | Ware | Heath | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
6,369Highest |
765 |
776 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
15.4%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% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
| Heath and Warwick 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$349,400±$34kHighest 38% below MA |
| Warwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
— | $1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
| Warwick and Plainfield 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Lowest 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | — | — | Warwick |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| 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.