Compare towns

Plainfield vs Erving 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%).
Erving has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldErvingLeyden
People
Population
616Lowest
1,703Highest
637
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%
MA: +7.4%
-7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±9.5
27% above MA
43.3±2.4Lowest
8% above MA
53.2±8.2Highest
33% above MA
Leyden and Plainfield 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%
16.3%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
13.8%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Plainfield and Erving 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%
22.6%±2.4Lowest
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%
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
40%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield and Erving 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
$77,656±$9k
25% below MA
$105,893±$13kHighest
about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,000±$47k
45% below MA
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$372,900±$24kHighest
34% below MA
Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$558
27% below MA
$1,163±$213Lowest
34% below MA
$1,917±$451Highest
9% above MA
Leyden 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
$1,870Lowest
69% below MA
$4,651Highest
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.5%±23Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100
MA: 51.8%
Erving and Leyden 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%
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
81.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
33 min
12% above MA
Work from home
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
3.6%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11%±5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
School district — Erving —
High school in town — None in town —
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.