Compare towns

Plainfield vs Lee 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%).
Lee 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.

MeasurePlainfieldLeeLeyden
People
Population
616Lowest
5,719Highest
637
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%
MA: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±9.5Lowest
27% above MA
55.2±5.8Highest
38% above MA
53.2±8.2
33% above MA
Lee and Leyden 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%
12.6%±5Lowest
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%±7.1
MA: 17.9%
33.4%±6.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
28.6%±2.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Lee 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%
44.1%
MA: 47.3%
40%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield and Lee 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
$83,750±$13k
19% below MA
$105,893±$13kHighest
about the MA average
Leyden and Lee 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
$352,700±$19k
37% below MA
$372,900±$24kHighest
34% below MA
Leyden and Lee 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
$1,375±$212
22% below MA
$1,917±$451Highest
9% above MA
Leyden and Lee 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
$3,980Lowest
34% below MA
$4,651Highest
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.3%±21.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100
MA: 51.8%
Lee 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%
7.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1959Lowest
5 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
18 minLowest
38% below MA
33 min
12% above MA
Work from home
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.4%±7.8
MA: 18.6%
11%±5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Plainfield and Lee 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 — #209 of 282 in MA —
School district — Lee —
High school in town — Lee Middle/High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.2
—
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.