Compare towns
Exeter vs Thomaston vs Suffield
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 expensive homes ($509k median).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Thomaston | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
7,492 |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston and Suffield 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Thomaston 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. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Exeter 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. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Thomaston School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.