Compare towns

Exeter vs Jay vs Arkwright

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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k 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.

MeasureExeterJayArkwright
People
Population
913Highest
471Lowest
859
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
50.8±7.2Lowest
31% above U.S.
Jay 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%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Arkwright 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%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Arkwright 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%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Arkwright and Jay 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.
$74,792±$25kLowest
7% below U.S.
$93,000±$26kHighest
15% above U.S.
Arkwright 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.
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
$170,900±$30kLowest
49% below U.S.
Exeter and Jay 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.
—
$875±$689Highest
38% below U.S.
Arkwright 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.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$3,760Highest
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±65.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Arkwright and Jay 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%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.