Compare towns
Holderness vs Plainfield vs Sunapee
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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Holderness 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Sunapee 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Sunapee 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±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Holderness and Sunapee 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 |
$4,400 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Sunapee 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.