Compare towns
Exeter vs Williamstown 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).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Williamstown | Plainfield | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,016 |
1,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 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% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Williamstown 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±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Williamstown 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. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Williamstown 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% |
8.2% 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% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below 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% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.