Compare towns
Bethel vs Plainfield vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Bethel | Plainfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Lowest |
2,522 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Bethel and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethel and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168 66% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Plainfield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.