Compare towns
Plainfield vs Berlin vs Windsor vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 44.8).
Wendell has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Plainfield | Berlin | Windsor | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
3,378Highest |
1,065 |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Berlin and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 26% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Berlin-Boylston | — | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | None 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.