Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Rye | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,151Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 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 | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Rye and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Exeter 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.