Compare towns
Worcester vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Elmore has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Lancaster | Plainfield | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,230Highest |
1,314 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Elmore 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% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lancaster 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. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Elmore 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±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% 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. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,066Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%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. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 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. |
20 minLowest 25% 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% |
10.6%±6.9 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.