Compare towns
Exeter vs Brighton 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
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Exeter | Brighton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,167Highest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brighton 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 4% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% 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 | $243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Highest 39% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,360Highest 8% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.