Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Keene
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,522Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| 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.