Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Rollinsford | Durham | Plainfield | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626 |
10,681Highest |
2,522 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.1±7.8Highest about the NH average |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest 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%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Rollinsford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,851 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | — | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley 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 | 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.