Compare towns
Plainfield vs Salem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Salem | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,611Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Plainfield 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% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Salem 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±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% 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. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.