Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Colrain 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Colrain | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,943Highest |
1,627 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Colrain 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Colrain 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Mohawk Trail | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.