Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter vs Columbus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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 | Brookfield | Exeter | Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
913 |
849Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7% NY: +4.2% |
-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY |
51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY |
43.6±11.8 10% above NY |
| Exeter and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4 NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 20% below NY |
$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
| Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28k 64% below NY |
$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY |
$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY |
| Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 39% below NY |
$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197Highest 51% below NY |
$2,926Lowest 56% below NY |
$3,071 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
29 minLowest 12% below NY |
32 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4 NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Columbus and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.