Compare towns

Exeter vs Townshend vs Plainfield

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).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).

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.

MeasureExeterTownshendPlainfield
People
Population
913Lowest
1,538Highest
1,016
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below 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%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.8
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%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.7Lowest
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%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$78,750±$29kHighest
about the U.S. average
$70,673±$6kLowest
12% below U.S.
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.
$287,200±$79kHighest
14% below U.S.
$155,100±$17kLowest
53% 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.
$1,074±$80Highest
24% below U.S.
$750±$207Lowest
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$5,364Highest
72% above U.S.
$2,667Lowest
14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.6%±43.5
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%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±4.7Lowest
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.