Compare towns
Exeter vs Sutton vs Wilbraham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
9,452 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% 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. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 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 | $5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.