Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Seabrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Hampton Falls | Exeter | Plainfield | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,522 |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
| Seabrook and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$443,500±$40k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,542±$174Lowest 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.