Compare towns
Lima vs Plainfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lima has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Lima | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,064Highest |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.6±5.7Lowest 6% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% 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 | 24.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lima and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,420±$18k 14% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $203,300±$19kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$177Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% 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 | $5,884Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±24.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

