Compare towns

Exeter vs Wayne vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

MeasureExeterWaynePlainfield
People
Population
913Lowest
1,033Highest
1,016
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-3.1%
NY: +4.2%
+0.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
51.7±12.6
30% above NY
62.6±3.6Highest
57% above NY
34.5±6.6Lowest
13% below NY
Wayne 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
NY: 20.5%
12.3%±3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
15.6%±2.8
NY: 20.5%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5
NY: 17.9%
40.1%±6Highest
NY: 17.9%
14.5%±2.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Wayne 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
NY: 40.2%
42.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
28.2%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
NY: 7%
1%±0.8Lowest
NY: 7%
14.9%±11.2Highest
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19k
10% below NY
$90,938±$17kHighest
6% above NY
$70,673±$6kLowest
18% below NY
Wayne 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
43% below NY
$266,700±$150kHighest
37% below NY
$155,100±$17kLowest
63% below NY
Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44
47% below NY
$1,031±$304Highest
36% below NY
$750±$207Lowest
54% below NY
Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
56% below NY
$3,967Highest
40% below NY
$2,667Lowest
59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NY: 52.1%
38.9%±100
NY: 52.1%
40.6%±43.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
Plainfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
NY: 14%
6.2%
NY: 14%
7.8%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
95.8%
NY: 54.3%
87.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
18 yrs newer than NY
1971Lowest
12 yrs newer than NY
1977Highest
18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
12% below NY
28 minLowest
13% below NY
29 minHighest
10% below NY
Work from home
14.4%±10.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
9.3%±4.2Lowest
NY: 14.9%
11.5%±4.7
NY: 14.9%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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NY 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.