Compare towns
Exeter vs Benson vs Jefferson vs Thurman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).
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 | Exeter | Benson | Jefferson | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
784Lowest |
1,226Highest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8 35% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Thurman 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,083±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43k 41% 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±$170 21% below U.S. |
— | $2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Benson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Thurman 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 | 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.