Compare towns

Plainfield vs Windham vs Worcester vs Montgomery

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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldWindhamWorcesterMontgomery
People
Population
1,314
1,432Highest
831Lowest
1,047
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
56.5±5.1Highest
45% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
51.5±11.3
32% above U.S.
Windham and Montgomery 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%
11.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Montgomery 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%
31.4%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery and Windham 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%
43.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
$76,477±$17kHighest
5% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below U.S.
Windham 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.
$315,600±$74k
5% below U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$323,200±$45kHighest
about the U.S. average
Montgomery 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.
$850±$295Lowest
40% below U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$868±$209
39% 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.
$3,363Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,326
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.9%±35.7
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery and Plainfield 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%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school 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.