Compare towns
Webster vs Plainfield vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 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 | Webster | Plainfield | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1 4% below U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234 4% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and North Adams 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.