Compare towns

Brookline 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

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

MeasureBrooklineHoldernessPlainfield
People
Population
5,736Highest
1,917Lowest
2,522
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.5Highest
5% below NH
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
Brookline and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.4%±5.8
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±4.5
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
55.7%
NH: 40.6%
46.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
$107,863±$45kLowest
9% above NH
$122,656±$13k
24% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38kHighest
35% above NH
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$442,400±$47k
10% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
$2,068±$385
39% above NH
$1,674±$181Lowest
12% above NH
Brookline and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$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
23.8%±43.5
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
31.8%±23.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.2%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
83.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
22 minLowest
18% below NH
Work from home
24.7%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
Brookline 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 #23 of 120 in NH — #19 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District Holderness School District Plainfield 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

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.