Compare towns
Dalton 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
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
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 | Dalton | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
913Lowest |
1,016Highest |
| 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 | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Highest 36% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Highest 14% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.