Compare towns
Exeter vs Strafford vs Whiting
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913 |
1,372Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Whiting 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.