Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stow vs Windsor 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 affordable homes ($309k median).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Ashfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Stow | Windsor | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
7,165Highest |
1,065 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Stow 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
— | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.