Compare towns
Burlington vs Exeter vs Thurston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the most renters (8.5% rent).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Thurston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.2%).
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 | Burlington | Exeter | Thurston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,050 |
913Lowest |
1,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.3% NY: +4.2% |
-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.3±7 26% above NY |
51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY |
49.7±3.7Lowest 25% above NY |
| Exeter and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.7%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Exeter and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
12.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.3 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.1%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Thurston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,196±$12kLowest 23% below NY |
$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$73,409±$14k 15% below NY |
| Exeter and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY |
$138,800±$8kLowest 67% below NY |
| Exeter and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$774 37% below NY |
$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,125±$264Highest 31% below NY |
| Thurston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007 54% below NY |
$2,926Lowest 56% below NY |
$3,406Highest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.4%±86.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
33.3%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Burlington and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
3.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest about the NY average |
29 min 12% below NY |
26 minLowest 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.1 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Burlington 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.