Holderness

Grafton County•White Mountains•Population: 2,004

Nature Lovers Retirees Second Home Buyers

Overview

Holderness sits on Squam Lake in Grafton County, the lake made famous as the filming location for On Golden Pond. The town's mix of forest, farmland, and lakefront gives it a quiet, scenic character distinct from the busier Winnipesaukee region nearby.

Squam Lake's clear waters and limited development support boating, fishing, and loon-watching, while the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center offers wildlife exhibits and trails. Holderness Central School and a small village center serve the local community.

Housing in Holderness ranges from lakefront estates to more modest inland homes, with prices reflecting the lake's protected, low-development character. The town draws nature lovers, retirees, and second-home buyers seeking a quieter alternative to Winnipesaukee.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Lake access
•Scenic beauty
•Wildlife center
•Quiet setting

✗ Cons

•Expensive lakefront
•Limited services
•Small population

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Holderness.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$9.42

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$6.72

Equalization ratio: 71%

Municipal

$2.15

Local School

$4.80

State Education

$1.13

County

$1.34

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$9.42	$6.72	$2.15	$4.80	$1.13	$1.34

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$2,355	$196
$350,000	$3,297	$275
$500,000	$4,710	$393
$750,000	$7,065	$589
$1,000,000	$9,420	$785

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $9.42 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

77.3°F

Winter Avg High

32.5°F

Annual Snowfall

58.4 in

Annual Rainfall

46.9 in

Sunny Days/Year

256

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

110 mi

~128 min drive

Manchester

60 mi

~70 min drive

Portsmouth

69 mi

~119 min drive

Concord

42 mi

~49 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score

9/10

Crime Rate

5.49/1,000

Crime Trend

stable

Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR NIBRS 2022) - https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/ • Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

47/100

Trail Miles

32.6

Boat Launches

State Parks

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:14 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$79,125

Per Capita Income

$48,622

Median Family Income

$124,053

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$346,900

Median Rent

$1,326/mo

Homeownership Rate

80.02%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

2.25%

In Labor Force

1,156

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

23.61%

Total with Degree

375

👥Demographics

Median Age

44.7 years

Avg Household Size

2.21 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

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