Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Waterville 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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Plainfield | Waterville | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
1,016Highest |
680Lowest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% 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% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Waterville 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% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville 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. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thurman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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.