Compare towns
Plainfield vs Exeter vs Madbury vs North 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 homeowners (87.3%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
North Hartland has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Madbury | North Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
16,151Highest |
2,203 |
322Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and North Hartland 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% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$51,161±$50kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Madbury 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 33% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$420,000±$354kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Exeter 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. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% 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 | $7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and North Hartland 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| 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 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.