Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Wells
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).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 59.8).
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 | Benson | Exeter | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
913Highest |
671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
51.7±12.6 30% above NY |
59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
| Wells 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% |
14.8%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Wells 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% |
28.9%±7.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Wells 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±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$74,286±$31k 14% below NY |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15kLowest 46% below NY |
$243,000±$89k 43% below NY |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$44 47% below NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,926Highest 56% below NY |
$2,588 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
29 min 12% below NY |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Benson 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.