Compare towns
Worcester vs Wolfeboro vs Calais vs Plainfield
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).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Wolfeboro | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
6,571Highest |
1,713 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Calais and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Calais 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. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Calais 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.