Compare towns

Exeter vs Brookfield 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureExeterBrookfieldPlainfield
People
Population
913Lowest
1,486Highest
1,016
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
Exeter and Brookfield 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%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Brookfield 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%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Brookfield 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
4% below U.S.
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$70,673±$6kLowest
12% below U.S.
Brookfield 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±$89k
27% below U.S.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$155,100±$17kLowest
53% below U.S.
Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$975±$306Highest
31% below U.S.
$750±$207Lowest
47% below U.S.
Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
$2,667Lowest
14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
40.6%±43.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Brookfield 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%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 —
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.