Compare towns
Worcester vs Springfield vs Windham 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%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Springfield | Windham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
154,749Highest |
594Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Windham 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Worcester 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. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Windham and Plainfield 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. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Springfield | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.