Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% 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.
| Measure | Derry | Exeter | Plainfield | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
2,522Lowest |
21,339 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41±3 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,278Lowest 9% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.