Compare towns
Holderness vs Plymouth vs Bridgewater vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Bridgewater | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
4,969Highest |
1,169Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater 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% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above 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 |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Bridgewater 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 |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923 41% below NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bridgewater and Plymouth 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Plymouth 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | — | Newfound Area School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.