Compare towns
Berwick vs Holderness vs Kensington vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Holderness has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Berwick | Holderness | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,009 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kensington and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Kensington 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Holderness School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.