Compare towns
Exeter vs Middlesex vs Otsego 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Otsego has the most renters (29.6% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Otsego | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,943 |
3,627Highest |
1,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8 34% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Otsego 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otsego and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$72,891±$16k 10% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$352,600±$42k 6% above U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Otsego 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Otsego 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,702 51% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #65 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.