Compare towns
Plainfield vs Colrain vs Worcester vs Guilford
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Colrain | Worcester | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,627 |
831Lowest |
2,461Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,283±$273Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.