Compare towns
Exeter vs Oxford vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Exeter | Oxford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
13,385 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #245 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oxford | Sutton |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Oxford High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.