Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Poultney 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Poultney | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
1,016 |
1,033Highest |
691Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% 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% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Poultney 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% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Poultney 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Poultney and Plainfield 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. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% 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±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
$200,000±$29k 40% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Mansfield 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. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$868±$113Highest 39% below U.S. |
— |
| Poultney and Exeter 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. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,450 11% above U.S. |
$4,122Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Poultney 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.