Compare towns

Exeter vs Plainfield vs Townshend

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).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

MeasureExeterPlainfieldTownshend
People
Population
913Lowest
1,016
1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend 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%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Plainfield 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%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$70,673±$6kLowest
12% below U.S.
$78,750±$29kHighest
about the U.S. average
Townshend 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.
$287,200±$79kHighest
14% below U.S.
Townshend 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.
$1,074±$80Highest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$2,667Lowest
14% below U.S.
$5,364Highest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.6%±43.5
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend 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%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — — Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.1
On TownTapestry
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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.