Compare towns
Plainfield vs Exeter vs Dover vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Dover | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$6,437Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.