Compare towns

Exeter vs Benson vs Mansfield vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Benson has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Mansfield has the highest household income ($83k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).

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.

MeasureExeterBensonMansfieldPlainfield
People
Population
913
271Lowest
691
1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
—
+4.3%Highest
NY: +4.2%
+0.8%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
51.7±12.6
30% above NY
50.7±7.7
27% above NY
54±5.5Highest
36% above NY
34.5±6.6Lowest
13% below NY
Mansfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±7.1Highest
NY: 20.5%
14.4%±9.3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
15.1%±4.5
NY: 20.5%
15.6%±2.8
NY: 20.5%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5
NY: 17.9%
34.3%±2.9Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±2.3
NY: 17.9%
14.5%±2.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
21.1%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
22.7%
NY: 40.2%
28.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
NY: 7%
1.1%±5.6
NY: 7%
4.2%±2.9
NY: 7%
14.9%±11.2Highest
NY: 7%
Plainfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19k
10% below NY
$69,375±$13kLowest
19% below NY
$83,304±$14kHighest
3% below NY
$70,673±$6k
18% below NY
Mansfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$89kHighest
43% below NY
$230,100±$15k
46% below NY
$200,000±$29k
53% below NY
$155,100±$17kLowest
63% below NY
Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Highest
47% below NY
— —
$750±$207Lowest
54% below NY
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
56% below NY
$2,528Lowest
62% below NY
$4,122Highest
37% below NY
$2,667
59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NY: 52.1%
0%±100Lowest
NY: 52.1%
0%±100Lowest
NY: 52.1%
40.6%±43.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
Plainfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
NY: 14%
5.2%
NY: 14%
5.8%
NY: 14%
7.8%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
86.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
96.2%
NY: 54.3%
87.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
18 yrs newer than NY
1966Lowest
7 yrs newer than NY
1981Highest
22 yrs newer than NY
1977
18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
12% below NY
26 min
20% below NY
26 minLowest
22% below NY
29 minHighest
10% below NY
Work from home
14.4%±10.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
9.6%±4.2Lowest
NY: 14.9%
12.1%±12.1
NY: 14.9%
11.5%±4.7
NY: 14.9%
Exeter and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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NY 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.