Compare towns
Amesbury vs Exeter vs South Hampton vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Amesbury | Exeter | South Hampton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
16,151 |
984Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainville 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.