Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Ashland
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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Plainfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,522 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Ashland 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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 |
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.