Compare towns
Bennington vs Plainfield vs Rollinsford vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Rollinsford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Bennington | Plainfield | Rollinsford | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
2,522 |
2,626Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Plainfield and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Rollinsford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Plainfield School District | Rollinsford School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.