Compare towns
Plainfield vs Becket 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).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Becket | Worcester | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,962Highest |
831Lowest |
1,047 |
| 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% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Becket 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% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% 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% |
2.8%±3.2 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±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$80,417±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Becket and Worcester 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. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Becket and Montgomery 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±$136 28% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% 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% |
76.6%±68 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Montgomery 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest 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% |
80.7%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 min 36% 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% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 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 | ||||
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.