Compare towns
Washington vs Plainfield vs Peru
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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
616 |
630Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Washington and Peru 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% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Peru 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% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Peru 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% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Peru 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 |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
| Washington and Peru 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±$47k 45% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% 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 | $4,381 27% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest 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 | 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.