Compare towns
Exeter vs Kensington vs Plainfield vs Rollinsford
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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Kensington | Plainfield | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Rollinsford 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Exeter and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rollinsford 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.