Compare towns
Peru vs Plainfield vs Windsor vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.3%).
Windsor has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Peru | Plainfield | Windsor | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 630 |
616 |
1,065Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Windsor and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
— | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,867 35% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
98% MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.