Compare towns
Dummerston vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Dummerston | Exeter | Plainfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
16,151Highest |
2,522 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.