Compare towns
Plainfield vs Cornish vs Mendon vs Worcester
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 kids (16.3% under 18).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Cornish | Mendon | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,816Highest |
1,113 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Mendon 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% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mendon 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% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Cornish 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% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Mendon 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. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornish 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. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornish 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Cornish School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.