Compare towns
Exeter vs Mendon vs Strafford 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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Mendon | Strafford | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
1,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest 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% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Mendon 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% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon 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. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Mendon and Strafford 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. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Mendon 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Mendon 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 | 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.