Compare towns
Exeter vs Benson 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k 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 | Exeter | Benson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913 |
271Lowest |
1,016Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
— | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY |
50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY |
| Exeter and Benson 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% |
15.6%±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% |
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% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7% |
| 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 | $77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
$70,673±$6k 18% below NY |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$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 | $2,926Highest 56% below NY |
$2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,667 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 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% |
7.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 12% below NY |
26 minLowest 20% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| 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 |
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.