Compare towns
Cornwall vs Exeter vs Benson vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Cornwall | Exeter | Benson | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
913 |
784Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None 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.