Compare towns
Exeter vs Benson vs Strafford vs Richfield
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Richfield has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
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 | Strafford | Richfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
784Lowest |
1,372 |
1,949Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
37±7.3Lowest 5% below 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%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.7 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+ | 26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Richfield 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$59,833±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$146,400±$15kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$802±$72Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL 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.