Compare towns
Plainfield vs Oakham 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%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Oakham | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,639Highest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Oakham 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | — |
| 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.