Compare towns
Plainfield vs Exeter vs South Hampton 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 youngest population (median age 38.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
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 | South Hampton | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
16,151Highest |
984Lowest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above 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% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
52.4% 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
— |
| South Hampton and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% 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% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% 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 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above 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% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest 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 | — | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District | Hartland 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 |
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.