Compare towns
Worcester vs Warren vs Plainfield vs Elmore
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%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Warren | Plainfield | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,009Highest |
1,314 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% 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% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Warren 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. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Elmore 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. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Warren 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. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Elmore 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. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,066Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Elmore 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #165 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quaboag Regional | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.