Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs Plainfield vs Elmore
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Worcester | Dover | Plainfield | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,308Highest |
1,314 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Plainfield 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.