Compare towns
Holderness vs South Berwick vs Plainfield vs Kensington
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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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 | South Berwick | Plainfield | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
7,670Highest |
2,522 |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.