Compare towns
Exeter vs Benson vs Strafford 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 homeowners (97.7%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
784Lowest |
1,372Highest |
977 |
| 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% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Benson 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% |
16.8%±4 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%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thurman and Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest 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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 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 | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% 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. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Strafford 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. |
$2,368Lowest 24% 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% |
23.1%±77.8 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% |
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% |
88.9% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below 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% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thurman and Benson 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 | — |
| High school 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.