Compare towns
Leyden vs Plainfield vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Leyden | Plainfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637 |
616Lowest |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ware 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| 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.