Compare towns
Easthampton vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Montague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most expensive homes ($372k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the highest household income ($81k).
Montague has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Easthampton | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
15,141 |
12,579 |
8,482Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
44.3±3.1 14% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,510±$12kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$282,100±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$115 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.6%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montague and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton and Windsor Locks 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.