Compare towns
Plainfield vs Halifax vs Worcester vs Peacham
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Halifax | Worcester | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,748Highest |
831Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Peacham 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Peacham 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Peacham 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. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Peacham 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. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Peacham 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peacham and Worcester 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Peacham School District |
| 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.