Compare towns
Exeter vs Dover vs Jefferson 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Dover | Jefferson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,226 |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9k 17% 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±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
| 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 6% below U.S. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.