Compare towns
Ashford vs Exeter vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Ashford | Exeter | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
7,195Highest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.9±5.4Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Salem 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.