Compare towns
Worcester vs Lowell vs Plainfield vs Montgomery
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%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Lowell | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
118,368Highest |
1,314 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell 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. |
$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Lowell 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. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lowell | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.