Compare towns
Windsor vs Springfield vs Plainfield vs Montgomery
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 most expensive homes ($390k median).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Montgomery has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Springfield | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
154,749Highest |
616Lowest |
796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Montgomery 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$123,000±$19kHighest 18% above MA |
| Montgomery and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Windsor and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
— |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Springfield | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.