Compare towns
Whately vs Plainfield vs New Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
New Braintree has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Whately | Plainfield | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Highest |
1,314 |
973Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
47.8±4.6Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Whately and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Braintree and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Braintree and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| New Braintree and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
| Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$408,800±$27k 23% above U.S. |
| Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,484±$316Highest 5% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 61% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,508Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Whately | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.