Compare towns
Exeter vs Poultney vs Plainfield vs Jefferson
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).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Jefferson 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.
| Measure | Exeter | Poultney | Plainfield | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,033 |
1,016 |
1,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson 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% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest 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%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 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±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,536±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Poultney 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. |
$868±$113Highest 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% 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. |
$3,450 11% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,602Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | #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.