Compare towns

Voluntown vs Exeter vs Chaplin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

MeasureVoluntownExeterChaplin
People
Population
2,604
7,195Highest
2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.3±1.7Highest
24% above U.S.
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,964±$25k
26% above U.S.
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,100±$16k
7% above U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$191Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,955
59% above U.S.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±24.3
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
19% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
8.9%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin 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 #53 of 149 in CT #14 of 38 in RI —
School district Voluntown School District Exeter-West Greenwich Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town None in town Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.5
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.