Compare towns
Windsor vs Dover vs Plainfield vs Oakham
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 youngest population (median age 44.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Oakham has the most renters (8.4% rent).
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 | Dover | Plainfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
5,930Highest |
616Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.