Compare towns
Oxford vs Exeter vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Oxford | Exeter | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385 |
16,151Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% 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 | $374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% 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 | $1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Exeter High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.