Compare towns
Plainfield vs Webster vs Whitman
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 people working from home (26.2%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Plainfield and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Plainfield 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.