Compare towns
Rochester vs Plainfield vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Rochester | Plainfield | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 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 | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Plainfield School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None 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.