Compare towns
Voluntown vs Hampton vs Exeter vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Voluntown | Hampton | Exeter | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,604 |
1,647Lowest |
7,195Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±1.7 24% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,964±$25kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% 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 | $4,955 59% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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 | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Voluntown School District | Hampton School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.