Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Plainfield vs Rollinsford vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Rollinsford has the most renters (21.8% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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.
| Measure | Mont Vernon | Plainfield | Rollinsford | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,636 |
2,522Lowest |
2,626 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Rollinsford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432 41% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Plainfield School District | Rollinsford School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.