Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfields vs Plainfield vs Newmarket
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Newfields | Plainfield | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,522 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 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% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Plainfield School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.