Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Windsor vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Windsor | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,522 |
2,060Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Kingston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| 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±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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 31% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| 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 183% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.