Compare towns
Sutton vs Exeter vs Hampton vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Sutton | Exeter | Hampton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
7,195 |
1,647Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% 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 | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Hampton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #14 of 38 in RI | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampton School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.