Compare towns
Plainfield vs Exeter vs Grantham vs Holderness
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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Grantham | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
16,151Highest |
3,465 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Grantham 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest 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+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| 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 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| 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±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— | $2,068±$385Highest 39% 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 | $7,904 19% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 23.5%±21.2Lowest 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 | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Grantham School District | Holderness 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.