Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 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+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Durham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| 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.