Compare towns
Plainfield vs Upton vs Wilbraham vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Wilbraham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Plainfield | Upton | Wilbraham | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
8,189 |
14,572 |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Canterbury 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampden-Wilbraham | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
14.2Highest |
— |
| 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.