What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Exeter has the most kids (19.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlestown	Exeter
People
Population	8,051Highest	7,195Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest RI: +4.3%	+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	53.3±2.1Highest 31% above RI	37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI
Kids under 18	13%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8%	19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8%
	Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.1%±3.5Highest RI: 18.7%	18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Lowest RI: 37.7%	46.1%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±2.7Lowest RI: 8.3%	11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3%
	Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,404±$10kLowest 25% above RI	$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI
	Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,500±$57kHighest 30% above RI	$509,200±$43kLowest 26% above RI
	Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,374±$134Highest about the RI average	$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average
	Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,365Lowest 31% below RI	$5,881Highest 20% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.7%±20.6Lowest RI: 48%	91%±26.7Highest RI: 48%
	Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%	12.8%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest RI: 63.6%	80.3%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 18 yrs newer than RI	1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 9% above RI	22 minLowest 12% below RI
Work from home	18.9%±3.9Highest RI: 13%	17.2%±6.1Lowest RI: 13%
	Charlestown 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	#10 of 38 in RI	#14 of 38 in RI
School district	Chariho	Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.