Compare towns

Ashland vs Plainfield vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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.

MeasureAshlandPlainfieldWindsor
People
Population
2,183
2,522Highest
2,060Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±11.2
9% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.6±12.3Highest
15% above U.S.
Windsor and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±8.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.8%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,607±$9k
32% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$227,000±$29k
32% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$170,300±$22kLowest
49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$155
22% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,002±$107Lowest
29% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,961
59% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,878Lowest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.1%±14.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±20Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Ashland 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #61 of 70 in VT
School district Ashland School District Plainfield School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.