Compare towns
Holderness vs Lee vs Hanover 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).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Lee | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
4,576 |
11,685Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385 39% above NH |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| Hanover and Holderness 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.