Compare towns

Griswold vs Exeter 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

Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureGriswoldExeterPlainfield
People
Population
11,530
7,195Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
18.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
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+
17.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Exeter and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628
48% above U.S.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #118 of 149 in CT #14 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Exeter-West Greenwich Plainfield School District
High school in town Griswold High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
—
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.