Compare towns
Barrington vs Durham vs Holderness vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Barrington | Durham | Holderness | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,080Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.