Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dudley 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).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Dudley | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
11,929Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%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% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield 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. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,605Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 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 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.