Compare towns

Exeter vs Plainfield vs Worcester

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureExeterPlainfieldWorcester
People
Population
913
1,314Highest
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
Exeter and Plainfield 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%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
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%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Plainfield 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%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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±$19kHighest
4% below U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Exeter and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
$318,400±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Worcester 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%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.