Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Athens | Exeter | Plainfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
913 |
1,016Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Athens and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.