Compare towns
Exeter vs Ashford vs North Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
North Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Exeter | Ashford | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
4,226Lowest |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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 | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #90 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Ashford School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.