Compare towns

Plainfield vs Deerfield vs Leyden

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 people working from home (26.2%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDeerfieldLeyden
People
Population
616Lowest
5,158Highest
637
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-0.7%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±9.5Lowest
27% above MA
51.8±3.6
30% above MA
53.2±8.2Highest
33% above MA
Leyden and Deerfield 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%
13.2%±3.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
13.8%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.9%±4.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
28.6%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
Plainfield and Leyden 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%
44.4%
MA: 47.3%
40%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
7.9%±3.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Deerfield and Plainfield 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
$106,136±$14kHighest
about the MA average
$105,893±$13k
about the MA average
Deerfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,000±$47kLowest
45% below MA
$414,900±$37kHighest
26% below MA
$372,900±$24k
34% below MA
Deerfield and Leyden 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
$1,334±$318
24% below MA
$1,917±$451Highest
9% above MA
Leyden and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,458Lowest
26% below MA
$5,824Highest
about the MA average
$4,651
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
MA: 51.8%
26.1%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
7.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
78.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
18 minLowest
40% below MA
33 min
12% above MA
Work from home
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±6.2
MA: 18.6%
11%±5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Plainfield and Deerfield 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 — #156 of 282 in MA —
School district — Deerfield · Frontier —
High school in town — Frontier Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.