Compare towns
Holderness vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Holderness | Exeter | Plainfield | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,522 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 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 | $107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Holderness and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop 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.