Compare towns
Exeter vs Thomaston vs Suffield vs North Smithfield
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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
North Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
7,492 |
15,702Highest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Suffield 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% |
19.2%±3.2 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Thomaston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$108,866±$12k 35% 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. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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 |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Exeter 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. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% 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%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% |
4.8% 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% |
77.9% 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. |
1972 8 yrs 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
14.2%±3.6 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 | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Thomaston School District | Suffield School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Suffield High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
10.9 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.