Compare towns

Coventry vs Exeter vs Plainfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Coventry has the oldest population (median age 44).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureCoventryExeterPlainfield
People
Population
35,907Highest
7,195Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±1.1Highest
13% above U.S.
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Coventry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Coventry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,946±$8k
28% above U.S.
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Exeter and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,200±$11k
7% above U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,206±$155
15% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
Exeter and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,099
63% above U.S.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±11.1
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.3%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Coventry 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 #24 of 38 in RI #14 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT
School district Coventry Exeter-West Greenwich Plainfield School District
High school in town Coventry High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
—
10.3Lowest
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.