Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Chester | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
913Lowest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 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+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.