Compare towns
Exeter vs Sterling vs Voluntown
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 people working from home (17.2%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Sterling | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
3,629 |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sterling 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. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Voluntown 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. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Voluntown 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Sterling 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 | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sterling School District | Voluntown 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.