What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

Benson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Exeter	Benson
People
Population	913Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S.	51.9±9.4Highest 33% 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	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson 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±$19kLowest 4% below U.S.	$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S.	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.
	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 39% below U.S.	$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.	$4,125Highest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.