Compare towns
Plainfield vs Townshend vs Westminster 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).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Townshend | Westminster | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,538Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Townshend and Westminster 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Westminster 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% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%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% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below 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. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 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. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% 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. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Westminster 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| 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.