Compare towns

Plainfield vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Holderness has the most renters (16.3% rent).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldSheldonHolderness
People
Population
2,522Highest
2,267
1,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.9±3.5Highest
5% above U.S.
39.4±7.4
about the U.S. average
Sheldon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Plainfield 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%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%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6
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.
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$272,400±$61kLowest
18% below U.S.
$363,100±$60k
9% above U.S.
Plainfield and Holderness 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.
$1,286±$379Lowest
9% 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.
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
$3,923
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Holderness 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%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Sheldon 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 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.