Compare towns
Plainfield vs Spencer 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).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Spencer | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
12,008Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Spencer 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Spencer 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. |
$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Spencer 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±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Spencer 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. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Spencer 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.