Compare towns
Worcester vs Hudson vs Bow 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).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hudson | Bow | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
25,557Highest |
8,335 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% 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% |
16.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hudson 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% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson 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. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Hudson and Bow 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. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Bow 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Bow 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 | — | #63 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hudson School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Alvirne High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.