Compare towns
Exeter vs Brookline vs Thurman vs Plainfield
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Thurman has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Exeter | Brookline | Thurman | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
531Lowest |
977 |
1,016Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline 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. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43k 41% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Thurman and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Thurman 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 | 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.