Compare towns
Plainfield vs Halifax vs Montgomery
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Halifax | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,748Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Plainfield 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.