Compare towns
Windsor vs Sutton vs Cheshire vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Sutton | Cheshire | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
9,452Highest |
3,216 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Sutton 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±$32k 31% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
— | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | Hoosac Valley Regional | — |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Hoosac Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
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.