Compare towns
Holderness vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Plymouth
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Plainfield | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
15,080Highest |
2,522 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Holderness 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham 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±$60k 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Plainfield 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.