Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Canterbury 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Canterbury | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,522 |
2,353Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter 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 |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional 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.