Compare towns
Plainfield vs Guilford vs Colrain
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).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Guilford | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
2,461Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% 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% |
17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Guilford 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. |
$75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% 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. |
$1,283±$273Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest 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% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.