Compare towns
Exeter vs Groton vs Plainfield vs Stratham
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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
967Lowest |
1,314 |
7,754 |
| 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% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
20.6%±3.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.7 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% 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% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest 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% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.