Compare towns
Plainfield vs Worcester vs Colrain vs Marshfield
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).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Colrain | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
831Lowest |
1,627 |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.7±6.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Colrain 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$60,313±$10kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$214,100±$37kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Plainfield 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,668Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above 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% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield and Worcester 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 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| 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.