Compare towns
Holderness vs Durham vs Lee 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 most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Lee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
10,681Highest |
4,576 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Lee and Holderness 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Lee 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 |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | — | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → | 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.