Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Kingston vs Bedford
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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Kingston | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,522Lowest |
6,275 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Bedford 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 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±$13k 24% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Exeter 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 |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.