Compare towns
Hampton vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Exeter | Plainfield | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
16,151 |
1,314Lowest |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.