Compare towns
Plainfield vs Becket vs Worcester vs Guilford
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).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Becket | Worcester | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,962 |
831Lowest |
2,461Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Becket 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% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Guilford 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% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guilford and Becket 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% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Becket 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. |
$80,417±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
| Becket and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,283±$273 9% below U.S. |
| Becket and Guilford 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. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.