Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Thurman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Benson | Exeter | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
913 |
977Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-10.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
51.7±12.6 30% above NY |
52.7±3.8Highest 32% above NY |
| Thurman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.8%±4 NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Benson and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
1.7%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Thurman and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 19% below NY |
$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$58,750±$14kLowest 32% below NY |
| Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 46% below NY |
$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY |
$197,400±$43kLowest 53% below NY |
| Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$44Lowest 47% below NY |
$2,175±$599Highest 34% above NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 62% below NY |
$2,926Highest 56% below NY |
$2,368Lowest 64% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
23.1%±77.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Thurman and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
29 min 12% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4 NY: 14.9% |
19%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Thurman and Exeter 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 |
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.