Compare towns
Guilford vs Whitingham vs Colrain 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Whitingham | Colrain | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
1,368 |
1,627 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 20% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Colrain 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain 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. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Guilford 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. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% 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. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.