Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Plainfield vs Lebanon
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%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Hampstead | Plainfield | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,102 |
2,522Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.