Compare towns
Leyden vs Plainfield vs Windsor vs Colrain
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%).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 44.8).
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 | Leyden | Plainfield | Windsor | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637 |
616Lowest |
1,065 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
| 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%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Windsor and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Windsor and Leyden 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 |
— | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% 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 |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.