Compare towns

Worcester vs Rowe 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 people working from home (23.6%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% 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.

MeasureWorcesterRowePlainfield
People
Population
831
453Lowest
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
48.9±6.4Highest
26% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Rowe 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%
23%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Rowe 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%
30.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Rowe 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%
26.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kHighest
9% below U.S.
$69,583±$13k
14% below U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Worcester and Rowe 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.
$275,000±$41k
17% below U.S.
$318,400±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
Plainfield and Rowe 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.
$1,313±$576Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Rowe 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.
$1,458Lowest
53% below U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
11.8%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Worcester 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%
15.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Rowe —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.