Compare towns

Plainfield vs Gray 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%).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldGrayHolderness
People
Population
2,522
8,429Highest
1,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
39.4±7.4
about the U.S. average
Gray 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%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Gray 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%
19.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%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%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray 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.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$107,863±$45k
34% above U.S.
Plainfield and Holderness 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.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$363,100±$60kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,923
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray 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%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Gray 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 #10 of 133 in ME —
School district Plainfield School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Holderness School District
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.