Compare towns
Exeter vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Mansfield
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%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($200k 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 | Jay | Sheldon | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
691 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Mansfield 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mansfield and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$83,304±$14kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Sheldon 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Exeter 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. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Sheldon 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,122Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Exeter 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±12.1Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.