Compare towns
Northbridge vs Winchester vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Northbridge | Winchester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
10,284Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Winchester and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Plainfield 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #97 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Northwestern Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.