Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ashland vs Holderness vs Grantham
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,183 |
1,917Lowest |
3,465Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+14%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 |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham 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% |
19.1%±6.6 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%±6.9Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest 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% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% 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 | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Holderness 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 |
— |
| Holderness and Plainfield 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 |
$7,605 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest 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 |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Grantham 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 | — | — | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ashland School District | Holderness School District | Grantham 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.