Compare towns
Exeter vs Grantham vs Plainfield vs Newfields
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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Grantham | Plainfield | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,465 |
2,522 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Grantham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.