Compare towns
Exeter vs Sutton vs Wilbraham
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% 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.
| Measure | Exeter | Sutton | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,452Lowest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.6 |
14.2Highest |
| 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.