Compare towns

Plainfield vs Dracut 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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldDracutHolderness
People
Population
2,522
32,574Highest
1,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.7±2Highest
7% above U.S.
39.4±7.4
about the U.S. average
Dracut and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dracut and Plainfield 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.
$114,036±$10k
41% above U.S.
$107,863±$45kLowest
34% above U.S.
Plainfield and Dracut 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.
$473,900±$17kHighest
42% above U.S.
$363,100±$60kLowest
9% above U.S.
Dracut and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Lowest
18% above U.S.
$1,839±$130
30% above U.S.
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
Holderness and Dracut 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.
$5,375
72% above U.S.
$3,923Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dracut 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%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Dracut 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 #201 of 282 in MA —
School district Plainfield School District Dracut Holderness School District
High school in town None in town Dracut Senior High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.