Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Dalton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
6,256Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Dalton 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. |
$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Dalton 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. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dalton 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. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% 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. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Dalton 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.