Compare towns
Plainfield vs Epping vs Groton 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
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Groton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,430Highest |
967 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% 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 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Plainfield 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Epping and Plainfield 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.