Compare towns
Exeter vs Waterville vs Plainfield vs Richfield
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%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Richfield has the most renters (28.3% rent).
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 | Waterville | Plainfield | Richfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
680Lowest |
1,016 |
1,949Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
37±7.3 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Richfield 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. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$59,833±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville 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. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$146,400±$15kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville 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. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$802±$72 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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.