Compare towns
Plainfield vs Oakham vs Worcester vs Guilford
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).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Oakham | Worcester | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,639 |
831Lowest |
2,461Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Guilford 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guilford and Oakham 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% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Oakham 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. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,283±$273Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Oakham 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. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Guilford 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% |
4.4%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% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Quabbin | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.