Compare towns
Worcester vs Nelson 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Nelson | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
648Lowest |
1,314Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Montgomery 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.