Compare towns
Rowe vs Plainfield vs Peru vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 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 | Rowe | Plainfield | Peru | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453Lowest |
616 |
630 |
752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
47.1±11.1Lowest 18% above MA |
| Peru and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
35.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
| Hancock and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
| Hancock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
— | $1,268±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
| Rowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458 76% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hancock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
98% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rowe | — | — | Hancock |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.