Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stratham vs Worcester vs Groton
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%).
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 | Stratham | Worcester | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,754Highest |
831Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%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. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% 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% |
13.3%±2.9 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% |
20.5%±3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest 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%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% 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%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.