Compare towns
Plainfield vs Worcester vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Worcester | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
831Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest 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 | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Mendon 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.