Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barre vs Worcester vs Groton
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).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Plainfield | Barre | Worcester | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
5,572Highest |
831Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% 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 | 16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Barre and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.