Compare towns
Exeter vs Highgate 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).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Otsego has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Highgate | Plainfield | Otsego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
3,528 |
1,016 |
3,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% 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. |
44±7.4 13% 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 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. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$72,891±$16k 10% below U.S. |
| Highgate 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. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Otsego and Highgate 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. |
$3,558 14% 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% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Otsego 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% |
8.1%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% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otsego and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #65 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 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.