Compare towns
Holderness vs Dover vs Plymouth 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
Holderness has the oldest population (median age 39.4).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Holderness | Dover | Plymouth | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
33,364Highest |
6,601 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Dover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.