Compare towns

Plainfield vs Montgomery 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%).
Montgomery has the highest household income ($123k).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldMontgomeryLeyden
People
Population
616Lowest
796Highest
637
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±9.5
27% above MA
49.7±5.8Lowest
24% 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%±9.3
MA: 19.4%
22%±5.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.8%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Montgomery and Plainfield 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%
24.9%±7Lowest
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%
38.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
40%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield and Montgomery 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
$123,000±$19kHighest
18% above MA
$105,893±$13k
about the MA average
Montgomery 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
$357,500±$29k
36% below MA
$372,900±$24kHighest
34% below MA
Leyden and Montgomery 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
—
$1,917±$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
$4,283Lowest
29% below MA
$4,651Highest
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100
MA: 51.8%
Montgomery 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%
1.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
96.3%
MA: 62.5%
93.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
36 min
23% above MA
33 minLowest
12% above MA
Work from home
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.4%±6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11%±5
MA: 18.6%
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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.