Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sandwich 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).
Sandwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Sandwich | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Highest |
1,757Lowest |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Holderness 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% |
46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Sandwich 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 |
$140,694±$22kHighest 42% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Sandwich 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±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$437,700±$79k 9% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and Sandwich 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 |
$1,679±$1k 13% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Sandwich 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 |
$4,494 33% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.4%±41.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandwich 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
94%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
36.1%±16.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandwich 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 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Holderness 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.