Compare towns
Worcester vs Hooksett vs Montgomery 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%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Hooksett | Montgomery | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,047 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% 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. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Plainfield 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% 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% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% 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% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% 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. |
1980 same as 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.