Compare towns
Gill vs Plainfield vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.
| Measure | Gill | Plainfield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740Highest |
616Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
| Plainfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14kHighest 13% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Gill and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17kHighest 39% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Gill and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Plainfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318 28% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Gill-Montague | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.