Compare towns
Exeter vs Whiting vs Strafford vs Otsego
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).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Otsego has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Whiting | Strafford | Otsego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
532Lowest |
1,372 |
3,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Otsego 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest 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%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below 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. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$352,600±$42k 6% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Otsego 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. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Otsego and Whiting 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. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,702 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otsego and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #65 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford School District | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.