Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Sturbridge vs North Smithfield
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
North Smithfield has the most renters (22.1% rent).
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 | Sturbridge | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
1,647Lowest |
9,960 |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% 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% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Exeter 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±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 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 | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% 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% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Hampton 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampton School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.