Compare towns
Exeter vs North Smithfield 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | North Smithfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
12,708Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield 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% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% 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 | $509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kLowest 37% 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 | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | North Smithfield | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | North Smitfield HS | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.