Compare towns
Worcester vs Hooksett vs Plainfield vs Montgomery
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%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Hooksett | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,876Highest |
1,314 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery 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% |
14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Hooksett 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. |
$101,053±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$348,100±$32kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Montgomery 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. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,960Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.