Compare towns

Exeter vs Brookfield 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

Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
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.

MeasureExeterBrookfieldThurman
People
Population
913Lowest
1,486Highest
977
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
47±5.9Lowest
21% 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
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$58,750±$14kLowest
27% below U.S.
Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$197,400±$43kLowest
41% below U.S.
Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$975±$306
31% below U.S.
$2,175±$599Highest
54% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
$2,368Lowest
24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.1%±77.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 —
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.