Compare towns
Holderness vs Plainfield vs Keene
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 oldest population (median age 39.4).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Holderness 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below 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±$60k 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Plainfield and Holderness 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below 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 |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.