Compare towns
Windsor vs Easthampton vs Plainfield vs Cheshire
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).
Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Windsor | Easthampton | Plainfield | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
16,086Highest |
616Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
| Cheshire and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire and Plainfield 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% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Windsor and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
| Easthampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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 | — | #92 of 282 in MA | — | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Easthampton | — | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | Easthampton High | — | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| 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.