Compare towns
Exeter vs Fairfield vs Sheldon 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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Fairfield | Sheldon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,938 |
2,267Highest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Fairfield 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. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Fairfield 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.