Compare towns
Exeter vs Orwell vs Mendon
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 affordable homes ($243k median).
Orwell has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Orwell | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,294Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell 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. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Orwell 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. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Orwell 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. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.