Compare towns
Exeter vs Groton 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Groton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
967Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest 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 | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.