Compare towns

Plainfield vs Stratham 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).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldStrathamWorcester
People
Population
1,314
7,754Highest
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% 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%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Stratham 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.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Stratham 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham 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 — #43 of 120 in NH —
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.