Compare towns

Plainfield vs Upton vs Washington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldUptonWashington
People
Population
15,141Highest
8,189
3,676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
49.9±5.5Highest
28% above U.S.
Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$101,549±$16k
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,204±$264Highest
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,709
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.1%±24Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.1%±9
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Washington 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 #131 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #17 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Regional School District 12
High school in town Plainfield High School Blackstone Valley Shepaug Valley School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
11.2Highest
9.1Lowest
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.