Compare towns
Ashfield vs Windsor vs Plainfield vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
Goshen has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
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 | Ashfield | Windsor | Plainfield | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893Highest |
1,065 |
616Lowest |
915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
58±5.8 45% above MA |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
| Windsor and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
| Ashfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200 38% below MA |
— | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Plainfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$5,022 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.