Compare towns
Exeter vs Strafford 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 homeowners (97.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Strafford | Thurman | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,372Highest |
977 |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% 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%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$197,400±$43k 41% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Thurman and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% 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% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2% 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% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below 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% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thurman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Strafford 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.