Compare towns

Worcester vs Thurman 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%).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterThurmanPlainfield
People
Population
831Lowest
977
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
52.7±3.8Highest
35% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Thurman 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%
16.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Thurman 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%
28.8%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±2.5Lowest
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±$18kHighest
9% below U.S.
$58,750±$14kLowest
27% below U.S.
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
Worcester and Plainfield 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.
$197,400±$43kLowest
41% below U.S.
$318,400±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
Plainfield and Worcester 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.
$2,175±$599Highest
54% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$2,368Lowest
24% below U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
23.1%±77.8Lowest
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%
19.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Thurman 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.