Compare towns
Holderness vs South Berwick vs Plainfield vs Mont Vernon
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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
7,670Highest |
2,522 |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest 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 |
42.9±2.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest 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% |
50.8% 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%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mont Vernon and Plainfield 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. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% 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. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon 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. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Holderness and South Berwick 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. |
$9,432Highest 202% 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% |
51.4%±80.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Mont Vernon 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% 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% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older 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. |
30 minHighest 13% 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% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Mont Vernon 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.