What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minerva has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.4%).

Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Minerva	Exeter
People
Population	836Lowest	913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY	51.7±12.6Lowest 30% above NY
	Minerva and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Minerva and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Minerva and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY
	Exeter and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,800±$22kLowest 59% below NY	$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY
	Exeter and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Lowest 52% below NY	$867±$44Highest 47% below NY
	Exeter and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY	$2,926Highest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Minerva and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Lowest NY: 54.3%	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	29 minLowest 12% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±7.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter and Minerva 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

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.