Compare towns
Chaplin vs Exeter vs Sterling vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Chaplin | Exeter | Sterling | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
7,195Highest |
3,629 |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sterling School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.