Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Worcester | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
3,216Highest |
831Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%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% |
2.9%±2.2 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±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Worcester 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,421 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% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest 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% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 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 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below 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% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional 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.