Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter vs Elmore vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Exeter | Elmore | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
16,151Highest |
964Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$315,800±$47kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.