Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Sutton 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Middlesex | Sutton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,943 |
2,239Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.