Compare towns
Worcester vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Hampton Beach | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,605Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 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 | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Worcester 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Worcester 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.