Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Athens | Exeter | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
913 |
1,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— |
| Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Athens 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 |
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.