Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Wheelock 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 expensive homes ($243k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Thurman has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
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 | Wheelock | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
1,016Highest |
717Lowest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% 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. |
51±5.6 31% 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% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Wheelock 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%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% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wheelock 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. |
$64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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. |
$189,600±$37k 43% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Thurman 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. |
— | $2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
$2,937Highest 6% below U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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.