The Town FilesPlainfield, Massachusetts
Town in Hampshire County · population 633 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,000
- Household income
- $63,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 85 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 50.6
Plainfield is a town of 633 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $309,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks quieter than 96% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 89% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of Massachusetts towns.
How Plainfield ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Plainfield is worth $309,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $63,500, which is more affordable than 41% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,292 a month. 98.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plainfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,292 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $63,500 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 98.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Plainfield
| People | Plainfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 26.2% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 37.9 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Plainfield
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 54.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainfield since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on February 25, 2017 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampshire County since 1996
Hampshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampshire County
Hampshire County had 65,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,006 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Plainfield itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Plainfield
- Cummington, MA3.2 mi · 829 people · home $300,600
- Ashfield, MA5.8 mi · 1,695 people · home $400,600
- Windsor, MA6.7 mi · 831 people · home $389,700
- Goshen, MA7.5 mi · 960 people · home $351,900
- Savoy, MA7.7 mi · 645 people · home $285,200
- Worthington, MA8.0 mi · 1,193 people · home $380,400
- Buckland, MA8.6 mi · 1,816 people · home $321,400
- Charlemont, MA9.0 mi · 1,185 people · home $305,500
Plainfield questions
Is Plainfield, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plainfield scores better for retirees than 89% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 96%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Plainfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Plainfield is valued at $309,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,500, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,292 a month.
What is the weather like in Plainfield?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.1 inches of precipitation a year and 85.3 inches of snow.
Does Plainfield get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on February 25, 2017. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)