Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading 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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Reading | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
699Lowest |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Reading 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% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Reading 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.