Compare towns
Holderness vs Madison 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).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Madison | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,680Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Madison and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above 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±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madison 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 |
$1,556±$256Lowest 4% above 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 |
$4,074 39% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Plainfield 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Holderness 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 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Madison 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 | 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.