Compare towns
Croydon vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k 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 | Croydon | Plainfield | Worcester | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798Lowest |
1,314Highest |
831 |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Croydon and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33k 5% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336 30% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 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 | Croydon School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.