Compare towns
Douglas vs Plainfield vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Douglas | Plainfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
15,141Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Westminster 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Plainfield School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Plainfield High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.