Compare towns
Barnet vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Barnet | Plainfield | Worcester | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,314 |
831 |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.