Compare towns
Exeter vs Dover vs Whiting vs Jefferson
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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k 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 | Dover | Whiting | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
1,466Highest |
532Lowest |
1,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Dover 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. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9k 17% below U.S. |
| Whiting 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±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Dover and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Whiting and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Whiting 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| 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.