Compare towns
Exeter vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Otsego has the most renters (29.6% 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 | Windham | Strafford | Otsego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,432 |
1,372 |
3,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Otsego 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% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9 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% |
31.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego and Windham 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% |
43.8% 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% |
6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Otsego 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. |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter 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. |
$315,600±$74k 5% 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±$44 39% below U.S. |
$850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Otsego 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. |
$3,363 8% 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% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
7.4%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% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otsego and Windham 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 | — | — | Strafford School District | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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.