Compare towns

Plainfield vs Stoddard 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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldStoddardWorcester
People
Population
1,314Highest
1,072
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
53±4Highest
36% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
Stoddard 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%
17.5%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stoddard 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%
24.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoddard 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%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Stoddard 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.
$94,904±$11kHighest
18% above U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Stoddard 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.
$330,300±$20kHighest
about the U.S. average
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Stoddard and Plainfield 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.
$895±$751Lowest
37% 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.
$4,316Lowest
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%
52.6%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Stoddard 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below 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%
9.5%±4Lowest
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
School district — Stoddard School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.