Compare towns
Plainfield vs Exeter vs Canterbury vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Exeter | Canterbury | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
16,151Highest |
2,353Lowest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Canterbury 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Shaker Regional School District | Rollinsford 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.