Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barnstead vs Worcester vs Brookfield
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Barnstead | Worcester | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
4,994Highest |
831Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47±5.9 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 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Brookfield 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% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Barnstead 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. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Barnstead 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Worcester 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Barnstead School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.