Compare towns
Worcester vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Worcester | Exeter | Ripton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
16,151Highest |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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 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.