Compare towns
Exeter vs Otsego vs Sheldon 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 homeowners (97.7%).
Otsego has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Otsego | Sheldon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
3,627Highest |
2,267 |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Exeter 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% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 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% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest 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. |
$72,891±$16k 10% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Otsego and Sheldon 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. |
$1,205±$165 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Otsego 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. |
$4,702Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #65 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.