Compare towns

Hancock vs Plainfield vs Rochester

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).

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.

MeasureHancockPlainfieldRochester
People
Population
435Lowest
2,522Highest
1,389
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.8±11.6Lowest
13% below U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
53.3±7.6Highest
37% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
49%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.4%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34k
6% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$72,676±$8kLowest
10% below U.S.
Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$187,900±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$253,600±$81k
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19
34% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$929±$158Lowest
34% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,511Lowest
13% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,977
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
62.4%±27.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rochester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
40.8%±27.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rochester 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 — Plainfield School District Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school 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.