Compare towns
Worcester vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.