Compare towns

Exeter vs Calais 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 oldest population (median age 51.7).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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.

MeasureExeterCalaisPlainfield
People
Population
913Lowest
1,713Highest
1,016
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
Exeter and Calais 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%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Calais 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%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Calais 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.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$70,673±$6kLowest
12% below U.S.
Calais 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.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$155,100±$17kLowest
53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$750±$207Lowest
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$2,667Lowest
14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.6%±43.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais 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%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
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.