Compare towns
Exeter vs Orange vs Topsham 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 most kids (22.7% under 18).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Topsham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
957 |
999 |
1,016Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Topsham 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% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Topsham 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% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham 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. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Orange and Topsham 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. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham 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% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Waits River Union High District #36 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.