Compare towns
Plainfield vs Newark 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).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Newark | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
727Lowest |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.4±6Lowest 6% 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% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newark 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% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Plainfield 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. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Newark 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. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Colrain 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. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% 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. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.