Compare towns
Worcester vs Orange vs Plainfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Orange | Plainfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,314 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Middlesex 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.