Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield vs Holderness vs Brentwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Kensington | Plainfield | Holderness | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009 |
2,522 |
1,917Lowest |
4,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Kensington 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Holderness School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.