Compare towns
Worcester vs Keene vs Plainfield vs Elmore
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%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Keene | Plainfield | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
22,939Highest |
1,314 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% 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% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Elmore and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Keene School District | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.