Compare towns
Exeter vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Voluntown has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Sutton | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
9,452Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Exeter 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25kLowest 26% 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16kLowest 7% 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,955Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sutton | Voluntown School District |
| High school 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 |
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.