Compare towns

Worcester 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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterPlainfieldElmore
People
Population
831Lowest
2,522Highest
964
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
45±3.5
16% above U.S.
Worcester and Elmore 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Highest
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%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$98,750±$24k
22% above U.S.
Plainfield and Elmore 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.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$315,800±$47k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,225±$263
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,066
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±65.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
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 — #19 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Plainfield School District Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.