Compare towns
Worcester vs Gorham vs Middlesex 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
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Gorham | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,682Highest |
1,943 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Gorham 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. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Gorham 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.