Compare towns

Worcester vs North Windham 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).
North Windham has the youngest population (median age 42).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureWorcesterNorth WindhamPlainfieldWindham
People
Population
831
5,417Highest
1,314
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
42±3Lowest
8% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% 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%
16.6%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and North Windham 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%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%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%
4.4%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and North Windham 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.
$88,522±$8k
10% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
Windham and North 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.
$342,800±$29k
3% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
Windham and North Windham 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.
$1,248±$604Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
—
North Windham 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.
$3,546Lowest
14% 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%
30.7%±14.3
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%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and North Windham 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.