Compare towns
Plainfield vs Epping vs Strafford 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Epping | Strafford | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Epping 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epping 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 24% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and Epping 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 |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Plainfield 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Epping School District | Strafford School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.