Compare towns
Plainville vs Exeter vs East Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
East Haven has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Plainville | Exeter | East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
7,195Lowest |
27,806Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.7±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| East Haven and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Haven and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$94,628±$9k 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$294,200±$12k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,528±$132Highest 8% above U.S. |
| East Haven and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,122 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±9.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI | #127 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | East Haven School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | East Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.