Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Hampton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| 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.