Compare towns
Summit vs Strafford vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Summit has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Summit | Strafford | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 976Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±7.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
| Summit and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Summit and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,375±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$29kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.