Compare towns

Worcester vs Stoddard 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%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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.

MeasureWorcesterStoddardPlainfield
People
Population
831Lowest
1,072
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
53±4Highest
36% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Stoddard 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%
17.5%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Stoddard 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%
24.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoddard 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%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Stoddard 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.
$94,904±$11kHighest
18% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Stoddard 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±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$330,300±$20kHighest
about the U.S. average
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Stoddard 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.
$895±$751Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
Plainfield and Worcester 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.
$4,316Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Stoddard 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
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 Stoddard School District —
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.