Compare towns

Plainfield vs Holderness vs Canterbury

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldHoldernessCanterbury
People
Population
2,522Highest
1,917Lowest
2,353
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+1.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
48.6±3.8Highest
12% above NH
Canterbury 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%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±4.4
NH: 18.2%
Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
22.9%±3.3
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
55.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
49.3%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
6.8%±3Highest
NH: 6%
Canterbury 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±$13k
24% above NH
$107,863±$45kLowest
9% above NH
$129,333±$37kHighest
31% above NH
Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47k
10% above NH
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$443,700±$21kHighest
10% above NH
Canterbury 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
12% above NH
$2,068±$385
39% above NH
$2,136±$233Highest
43% above NH
Canterbury and Holderness 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
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$7,421
11% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
71.7%±48.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Canterbury 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
NH: 7.2%
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
NH: 72.8%
83.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
33 minHighest
22% above NH
Work from home
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.6%±7.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Canterbury 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 — —
School district Plainfield School District Holderness School District Shaker Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.