Compare towns

Worcester vs Hooksett vs Elmore 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%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureWorcesterHooksettElmorePlainfield
People
Population
831Lowest
15,057Highest
964
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
45±3.5
16% 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%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Elmore and Hooksett 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%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Worcester 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%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Worcester 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.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$98,750±$24k
22% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Hooksett and Elmore 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.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$315,800±$47k
5% below U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,225±$263
13% below U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Hooksett and Elmore 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.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$5,066
62% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±65.8
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Hooksett 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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
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 Hooksett School District Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 —
High school in town None 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.