Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hingham vs East Montpelier
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 most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
East Montpelier has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hingham | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
24,283Highest |
2,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.7±4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| East Montpelier and Hingham 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. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$92,778±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$378,700±$32k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,187±$131 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,868 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.3%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hingham 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hingham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.