What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holderness	Orford
People
Population	1,917Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	0%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH
	Orford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Holderness and Orford 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%	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Holderness and Orford 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%	44%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford 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±$45kHighest 9% above NH	$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH
	Holderness and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kHighest 10% below NH	$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH	$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH
	Holderness and Orford 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	$5,836Highest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Orford and Holderness 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%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Orford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Holderness School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.