Compare towns

Worcester vs Atkinson vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureWorcesterAtkinsonPlainfield
People
Population
831Lowest
7,267Highest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Atkinson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$146,380±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$555,200±$65kHighest
67% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,140±$32
19% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
Plainfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,918Highest
122% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.5%±39.1
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Atkinson 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 — #32 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Timberlane Regional School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.