Compare towns
Worcester vs Hampton vs Exeter 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Hampton | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
16,426Highest |
16,151 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.