Compare towns
Worcester vs Meredith 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Meredith | Plainfield | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,314 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% 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. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Plainfield 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%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%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% 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 | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% 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% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.