Household socioeconomic characteristics in nonmetropolitan areas of the New England states and New Jersey were examined to determine if differences existed among communities according to their growth status--growing, stable, declining. Data for the regional analysis came from 2,141 interviews; chi-square was used to test for significant differences for qualitative variables and grouped data. Variables examined were age and sex composition, household size, length of residency, income of household, education attainment, and major activity of head of household. The general finding was that there are differences according to growth status: declining areas have (1) relatively high dependency ratios, (2) relatively high proportion with less than 12 years of schooling, (3) relatively lower incomes, and (4) wages, salaries, and self-employment earnings reported less frequently as income sources while retirement and transfer payment sources were more frequent. The results have important implications for policy questions concerning state and national support and aid for community facilities and services since communities in declining areas are shown to be less able to draw upon households to finance these facilities and services. (RS)