Compare towns
Exeter vs Reading vs Strafford vs Thurman
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%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Reading | Strafford | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
699Lowest |
1,372Highest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Thurman 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thurman and Reading 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.