Compare towns
Exeter vs Middlebury 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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
9,175Highest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$86,169±$16kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Middlebury 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. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113Highest 18% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.