Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Ware 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
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Ware | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,314 |
10,048Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Ware | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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| 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.