What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).

Thurston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	Thurston
People
Population	913Lowest	1,097Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY	49.7±3.7Lowest 25% above NY
	Exeter and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%	15.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Exeter and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5Highest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Exeter and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	3.1%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Thurston and Exeter 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 10% below NY	$73,409±$14kLowest 15% below NY
	Exeter and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY	$138,800±$8kLowest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY	$1,125±$264Highest 31% below NY
	Thurston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Lowest 56% below NY	$3,406Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	33.3%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Thurston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Highest NY: 14%	3.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	92.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 12% below NY	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%	3.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter and Thurston 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

NY 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.