Compare towns
Pelham vs Plainfield vs Shutesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Shutesbury has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Pelham | Plainfield | Shutesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
15,141Highest |
1,910 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.2±4.5Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shutesbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$123,333±$12kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$376,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,721±$111Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Shutesbury and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,642 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Shutesbury 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Pelham | Plainfield School District | Shutesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.