Compare towns
Calais vs Exeter vs Thurman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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 | Calais | Exeter | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
913Lowest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thurman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Calais and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.

