Compare towns
Plainfield vs Athol vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Athol | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
12,011Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,605Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peacham 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.