Compare towns
Plainfield vs Exeter vs Worcester vs Peacham
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
16,151Highest |
831Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peacham and Worcester 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.