Compare towns
Holderness vs North Berwick vs Ashland 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
North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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 | North Berwick | Ashland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
5,129Highest |
2,183 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashland and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ashland 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% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Ashland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and North Berwick 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 34% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| 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±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and North Berwick 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. |
$1,105±$116 22% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923 26% above U.S. |
$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Ashland 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and North Berwick 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Ashland School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Noble High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.