Compare towns
Hancock vs Exeter vs Whiting vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Hancock | Exeter | Whiting | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
913Highest |
532 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$57,159±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 44% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$810±$94Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,019 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| 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.