Compare towns
Exeter vs Thurman vs Williston 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Thurman has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Thurman | Williston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
977 |
10,144Highest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% 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%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Williston 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% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 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% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$197,400±$43k 41% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Thurman and Williston 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. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.