Compare towns
Plainfield vs Acton vs Worcester vs Montgomery
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Plainfield | Acton | Worcester | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
24,155Highest |
831Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.