Compare towns
Hope vs Exeter vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Hope | Exeter | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 587 |
913Highest |
271Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.3±8.5Lowest 26% above NY |
51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY |
50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
| Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.7 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±10.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5 NY: 17.9% |
34.3%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
| Hope and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,188±$13k 16% below NY |
$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
| Exeter and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $211,300±$106kLowest 50% below NY |
$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY |
$230,100±$15k 46% below NY |
| Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$217Highest 24% below NY |
$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,551 61% below NY |
$2,926Highest 56% below NY |
$2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±98.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hope and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
29 minHighest 12% below NY |
26 minLowest 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.