Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lenox vs Leyden vs Ashfield
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).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Lenox | Leyden | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
5,079Highest |
637 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
| Lenox and Ashfield 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% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Lenox 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 |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Lenox and Ashfield 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 |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Lenox 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% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | #90 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Lenox | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Lenox Memorial High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6 |
— | — |
| 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.