Compare towns
Exeter vs Hardwick vs Plainfield vs Otsego
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).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k 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 | Hardwick | Plainfield | Otsego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
2,965 |
1,016 |
3,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Otsego and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego and Hardwick 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% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Otsego 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. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$72,891±$16k 10% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Otsego 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±$406 38% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Otsego and Hardwick 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. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,702Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otsego and Exeter 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #65 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.