Compare towns
Worcester vs Randolph vs Middlesex 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).
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 57.5).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Randolph | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
420Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
57.5±10.9Highest 48% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Randolph 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% |
14.5%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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% |
31.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Randolph 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. |
$101,750±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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. |
$407,000±$57kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Middlesex 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. |
$1,667±$215Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Middlesex 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. |
$4,269Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±53.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.