Compare towns
Plainfield vs Atkinson vs Worcester vs Groton
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 (16.3% under 18).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Atkinson | Worcester | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,267Highest |
831Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Atkinson 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 | — | #32 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional 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 | 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.