Compare towns
Exeter vs Strafford vs Mendon 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Strafford | Mendon | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,113 |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8 35% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Thurman 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Thurman 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% 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. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Mendon 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Thurman 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.