Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Plainfield vs Rockingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Rockingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

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.

MeasureBellows FallsPlainfieldRockingham
People
Population
2,891
2,522Lowest
4,807Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7
6% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±2.6Highest
19% above U.S.
Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$70,857±$16k
12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$210,900±$14k
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,062±$101
25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,887
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
61.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Rockingham 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 #65 of 70 in VT
School district — Plainfield School District Rockingham School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.