Compare towns
Worcester vs Nelson vs Windham 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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Windham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
648 |
594Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| 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% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Windham 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%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Windham and Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,153±$103 18% 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 | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | — |
| 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.