Compare towns
Holderness vs Plainfield vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Wells 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Wells 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wells 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.