Compare towns

Exeter vs Calais 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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.

MeasureExeterCalaisThurman
People
Population
913Lowest
1,713Highest
977
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% 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%
22.5%±5.4
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+
26.9%±10.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
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+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
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
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above 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
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$197,400±$43kLowest
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$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
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$2,368Lowest
24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
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
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
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.