Compare towns
Exeter vs Plaistow vs Weare
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%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Plaistow | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,861Lowest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Exeter and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Weare 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 |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.