Compare towns
Plainfield vs Holbrook 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).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Holbrook | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
11,380Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Lowest 10% 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% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Holbrook 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. |
$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423 23% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Holbrook 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. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Holbrook 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% 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 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #234 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Holbrook | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.