Compare towns
Exeter vs North Hampton vs Plainfield vs Stratham
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%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | North Hampton | Plainfield | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,543 |
2,522Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and North 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 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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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.