Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dorset vs Stowe vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Dorset | Stowe | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
2,092 |
5,285Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Dorset 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 52% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
| 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 153% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Stowe Town School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.