Compare towns
Plainfield vs Heath 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).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k 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 | Heath | Worcester | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
765Lowest |
831 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%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. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
| Heath and Montgomery 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% |
13.1%±2.8 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% |
33.6%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Heath 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% |
46.8%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% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Heath 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. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Heath 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. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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. |
— | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% 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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
6.6% 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% |
88.3%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. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 32% 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% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | 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 |
| 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.