Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lee vs Worcester vs Brookfield
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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Lee | Worcester | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
5,719Highest |
831Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Lee 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Brookfield 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Lee 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. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Lee | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.