Compare towns
Windsor vs Erving vs Plainfield vs Chesterfield
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).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Chesterfield has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | Erving | Plainfield | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
1,703Highest |
616Lowest |
1,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±7.6 11% above MA |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chesterfield and Plainfield 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Chesterfield 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Erving 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 |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$103,967±$11k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$390,800±$48kHighest 30% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
| Plainfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Erving 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7 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 | — | Erving | — | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.