Compare towns
Worcester vs Northbridge vs Plainfield vs St. George
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).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
16,458Highest |
1,314 |
812Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4 15% 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| St. George and Northbridge 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%Highest 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% |
5.9%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and St. George 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±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and St. George 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$376,800±$50k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,394±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
| St. George and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,514Highest 77% 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% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest 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. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| St. George and Worcester 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | — | — |
| 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.