Compare towns

Worcester vs Brookfield vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% 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.

MeasureWorcesterBrookfieldPlainfield
People
Population
831
567Lowest
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
58.1±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
8.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
38.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$81,406±$31kHighest
about the U.S. average
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$428,000±$61kHighest
29% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
$1,153±$103Highest
18% 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
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,926Highest
90% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
98.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — —
High school 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.