Compare towns

Worcester vs Gilsum vs Windham 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 people working from home (23.6%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureWorcesterGilsumWindhamPlainfield
People
Population
831
716
594Lowest
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
44.8±8.1
15% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% 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
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
12%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
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+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Gilsum 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.
$80,417±$7k
about the U.S. average
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Windham and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$241,500±$32kLowest
27% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,575±$894Highest
11% above U.S.
—
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Gilsum and Plainfield 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.
$5,579
79% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.5%±55.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Gilsum and Plainfield 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%
13.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.9%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Monadnock 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 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.