Compare towns

Exeter vs Fair Haven 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).
Fair Haven has the most renters (19.4% 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.

MeasureExeterFair HavenPlainfield
People
Population
913Lowest
2,724Highest
1,016
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
Exeter and Fair Haven 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%
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Fair Haven 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%
18.4%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Fair Haven 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%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Fair Haven 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.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% 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.
$176,500±$14k
47% below U.S.
$155,100±$17kLowest
53% below U.S.
Exeter and Fair Haven 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.
$830±$116
41% below U.S.
$750±$207Lowest
47% below U.S.
Exeter and Fair Haven 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.
$3,865Highest
24% above U.S.
$2,667Lowest
14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.6%±43.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Fair Haven 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%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 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
17% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #66 of 70 in VT —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school in town — Fair Haven Union Middle and High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
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.