Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dummerston vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Holderness has the most renters (16.3% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.