Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ashland vs Holderness vs Chichester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Ashland | Holderness | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,183 |
1,917Lowest |
2,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
| Chichester and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$2,055±$275 38% above NH |
| Holderness and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ashland School District | Holderness School District | Chichester 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 | 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.