Compare towns
Gorham 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
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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.
| Measure | Gorham | Holderness | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
39.4±7.4Highest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.