Compare towns
Derby vs Holderness 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
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Holderness has the most renters (16.3% rent).
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 | Derby | Holderness | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$3,923 26% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Derby 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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 |
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.