Compare towns
Exeter vs Reading vs Stratton 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Reading | Stratton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
699 |
532Lowest |
1,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Stratton 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. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Stratton and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Reading 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 | — | — |
| 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.