Compare towns
Hampstead vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Hampstead | Exeter | Plainfield | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,151 |
2,522Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.