Compare towns
Windsor vs Monroe vs Oakham 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 youngest population (median age 44.8).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Monroe | Oakham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
122Lowest |
1,639Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | -2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
| Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe 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% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 |
— | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Windsor and Oakham 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 |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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 |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 27% above MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
39 min 32% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 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 | — | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school 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.