Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Durham
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,522Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Exeter 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Exeter 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% 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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.