Compare towns

Plainfield vs Holderness vs Eliot vs Sanbornton

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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldHoldernessEliotSanbornton
People
Population
2,522
1,917Lowest
7,146Highest
3,053
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
39.4±7.4
about the U.S. average
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
41.9±5.4
8% above U.S.
Eliot and Sanbornton 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%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Sanbornton 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%
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Holderness 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.
$107,863±$45k
34% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
$113,750±$41k
41% above U.S.
Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$363,100±$60kLowest
9% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$452,300±$30k
36% above U.S.
Eliot and Sanbornton 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.
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,289±$198Lowest
9% below U.S.
Holderness and Eliot 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.
$3,923Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$5,731
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.3%±23.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot 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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 min
15% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.8%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Eliot 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 — #19 of 133 in ME #42 of 120 in NH
School district Plainfield School District Holderness School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Winnisquam Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.