Compare towns
Windsor vs Chester vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.3%).
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 | Windsor | Chester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065 |
1,240Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,522Highest 25% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Gateway | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.