Compare towns
Exeter vs Jay vs Windham 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
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 | Jay | Windham | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
471Lowest |
1,432Highest |
1,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
| Windham and Jefferson 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%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Windham 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. |
$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Windham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Highest 39% below U.S. |
— | $850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Windham 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. |
$3,363 8% above U.S. |
$3,602Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Windham 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest 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% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs 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 |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jefferson 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 | 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.