Compare towns

Plainfield vs Croydon 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldCroydonWorcester
People
Population
1,314Highest
798Lowest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
43±9.1Lowest
11% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% 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%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Croydon 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%
27.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Croydon and Plainfield 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%
21.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Croydon 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.
$98,333±$21kHighest
22% above U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Croydon 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±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
$317,300±$33k
5% below U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Plainfield and Croydon 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.
$991±$336Lowest
30% below U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
Plainfield and Worcester 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.
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±75.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Worcester 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
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 — Croydon 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

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.