Compare towns
Brentwood vs Holderness vs Kensington 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
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Brentwood | Holderness | Kensington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,009 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| Brentwood and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.