Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Plainfield vs Hampstead
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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Plainfield | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426Highest |
2,522Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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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.