Compare towns
Plainfield vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,573Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% 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%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Orange 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. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.