What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the highest household income ($95k).

Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Washington	Plainfield
People
Population	526Lowest	616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA
	Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
	Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,292±$558 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,381Lowest 27% below MA	$4,458Highest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974 10 yrs newer than MA	1974 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.