Compare towns
Exeter vs Orange vs Plainfield vs Mansfield
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 people working from home (14.4%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Orange | Plainfield | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
7,573Highest |
1,016 |
691Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Mansfield 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Mansfield 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$83,304±$14kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Mansfield 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. |
$245,900±$18kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$200,000±$29k 40% below U.S. |
| Orange and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Highest 39% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Orange 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. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,122 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±12.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Mansfield 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.