Compare towns
Holderness vs Eliot vs Durham 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
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
7,146 |
15,080Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| 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±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 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 |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.