Compare towns
Washington vs Plainfield vs Lee vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Washington | Plainfield | Lee | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
616 |
5,719Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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 | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.