Compare towns
Worcester vs Dalton vs Windham 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%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Worcester | Dalton | Windham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
6,256Highest |
594Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Windham 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Dalton 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. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Dalton 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. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% 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 | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.