Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Burlington
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%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Burlington has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
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 | Sheldon | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,016 |
2,267Highest |
1,050 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
50.3±7 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Burlington 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% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Burlington 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% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Burlington 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. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$66,196±$12kLowest 18% 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Exeter 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,025±$774 27% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Burlington 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. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,007 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
86.4%±86.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burlington 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school 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.