Compare towns
Exeter vs Jay vs Thurman vs Roseboom
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Thurman has the most renters (7.9% rent).
Roseboom has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Exeter | Jay | Thurman | Roseboom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
471Lowest |
977Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
50±8Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Thurman 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.8 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roseboom and Jay 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. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$77,583±$8kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Roseboom 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±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43k 41% below U.S. |
$166,700±$16kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Jay 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. |
— | $2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,536±$916 9% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Roseboom 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. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$2,567 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
15.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.