Compare towns
Rowley vs Thompson vs Plainfield vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the highest household income ($133k).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 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 | Rowley | Thompson | Plainfield | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
9,337 |
15,141Highest |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.3±16.7 19% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$109,622±$17k 36% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$614,800±$39k 85% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,663±$674Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,865 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±45.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.