Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Plainville
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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Kingston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainville 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston and Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Exeter 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. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainville 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.