Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bennington vs Rumney vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Rumney has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
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 | Plainfield | Bennington | Rumney | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,588 |
1,458Lowest |
3,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
44.5±2.3Highest about the NH average |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Rumney and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest 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+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Rumney and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Rumney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rumney and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 | — | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Rumney School District | Winnisquam Regional 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.