Compare towns
South Hampton vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | South Hampton | Exeter | Plainfield | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
16,151 |
2,522 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 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+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 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 | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% 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 | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% 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 | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainfield School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.