Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windham vs Ashfield vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Windham | Ashfield | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
19,188Highest |
1,893 |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 30% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.6±3.4Highest 51% above U.S. |
47.1±8.8 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wendell 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 21% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$65,288±$14k 19% below U.S. |
| Windham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$400,600±$30kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$290,300±$31kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ashfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,100±$200Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,239±$519 12% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 43% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,197Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,519 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 14 | Mohawk Trail | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.