Compare towns
Holderness vs Wakefield 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
Holderness has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Holderness | Wakefield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
5,405Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Wakefield 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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±$45k 9% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 39% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Wakefield 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Wakefield School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.