Compare towns
Exeter vs Mendon vs Sutton vs Hopkinton
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hopkinton has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
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 | Mendon | Sutton | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
6,325Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.1±3.9Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Sutton 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopkinton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mendon 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. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$97,172±$12kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$404,300±$29kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,040±$441Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,616Lowest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.3%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mendon 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.1Lowest 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #11 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.