Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield vs Springfield 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
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Plainfield | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,122 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield 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 | 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.