Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Meredith vs Plainfield
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%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Meredith | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426Highest |
6,758 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Exeter 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.1 |
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| 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.