Compare towns
Worcester vs Heath vs Plainfield vs Windham
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).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Heath | Plainfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
765 |
1,314Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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% |
46.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Heath 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. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Heath and Windham 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. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above 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±$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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Windham 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.