Compare towns
Guilford vs Barre vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Guilford | Barre | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461 |
5,572Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 20% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Barre and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Guilford and Plainfield 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.