Compare towns
Worcester vs Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Stowe
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 homeowners (85.9%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,216 |
1,314 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Stowe 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.