Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Holderness
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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hampton Falls | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
15,080Highest |
2,328 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Hampton Falls 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.