Compare towns
Whiting vs Exeter vs Mendon vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Whiting | Exeter | Mendon | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
913 |
1,113Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest 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+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 36% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Athens 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.