Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Windsor vs Hawley
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 homeowners (98%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Hawley has the oldest population (median age 56.8).
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 | Reading | Windsor | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
25,612Highest |
1,065 |
277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
56.8±7.2Highest 42% above MA |
| Hawley 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Plainfield 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
39.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$87,500±$26k 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$309,600±$38k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
— | — |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,097 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hawley 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
94% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±12.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Plainfield 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Reading | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.