Compare towns

Worcester vs Sharon 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%).
Sharon has the highest household income ($113k).
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.

MeasureWorcesterSharonPlainfield
People
Population
831
442Lowest
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.
49.4±11.2Highest
27% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Sharon 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%
22.4%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Sharon 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%
31.4%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Sharon 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%
41.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Plainfield 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.
$113,125±$19kHighest
40% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$475,900±$38kHighest
43% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,458±$1kHighest
3% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Sharon and Plainfield 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.
$8,274Highest
165% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.6%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Sharon 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%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±4.5Lowest
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 — —
High school 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.