Compare towns
Warren vs Plainfield vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($77k).
Athol has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Warren | Plainfield | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athol and Plainfield 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Plainfield School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Plainfield High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
10.3 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.