Compare towns
Windsor vs Marblehead 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 youngest population (median age 44.8).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Marblehead | Plainfield | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
20,413Highest |
616Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
49.1±2 23% 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% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Cheshire 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
— |
| Marblehead and Plainfield 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Marblehead | — | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | — | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.