Compare towns
Exeter vs Jefferson vs Strafford
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%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Jefferson | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,226 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest 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% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Strafford 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.