Compare towns
Exeter vs Halifax 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 highest household income ($78k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
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 | Halifax | Jefferson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
847Lowest |
1,226Highest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%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. |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Exeter 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Exeter 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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% |
44.9%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% |
1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% 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. |
$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Halifax 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. |
$875±$154Highest 38% below U.S. |
— | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Halifax 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. |
$4,991Highest 60% 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% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Halifax 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% 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% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Halifax School District | — | — |
| 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.