Compare towns
Chichester vs Holderness vs Plainfield vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chichester has the oldest population (median age 43).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Chichester | Holderness | Plainfield | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,745 |
1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Chichester and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,055±$275 38% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189 8% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Chichester 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chichester School District | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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.