Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Worcester | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,605Highest |
831Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%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. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Brookfield 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Brookfield 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. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampton Beach 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% 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% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 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. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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 |
| 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.