What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holderness	Strafford
People
Population	1,917Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford 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%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Holderness 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford 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.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Strafford and Holderness 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.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Holderness and Strafford 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.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Holderness 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Holderness School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.