Compare towns
Worcester vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Northbridge | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
16,458Highest |
1,314 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%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. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% 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. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% 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% |
51.2%±9.8 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%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. |
1973 7 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. |
31 min 17% 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% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northbridge | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— | — |
| 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.