Compare towns

Plainfield vs Williston vs Rockingham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldWillistonRockingham
People
Population
2,522Lowest
10,144Highest
4,807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
46.4±2.6Highest
19% above U.S.
Rockingham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rockingham and Williston 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
52% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$70,857±$16kLowest
12% below U.S.
Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$210,900±$14kLowest
37% below U.S.
Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,062±$101Lowest
25% below U.S.
Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$4,887Lowest
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
61.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT #65 of 70 in VT
School district Plainfield School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Rockingham School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.