Compare towns
Worcester vs Devens vs Calais 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Devens | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,723Highest |
1,713 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Devens and Calais 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. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Devens and Calais 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. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Plainfield 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | 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 | 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.