Compare towns
Worcester vs Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Calais
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).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Worcester | Bethlehem | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,314 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Bethlehem 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% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Bethlehem 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. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.