Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Sterling
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 the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Hampton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest 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+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampton School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.