Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Benson | Exeter | Plainfield | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
913 |
1,016 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.