Compare towns
Middlesex vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Middlesex | Exeter | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
16,151Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.