What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).

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	Exeter	Bristol
People
Population	7,195Lowest	22,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest RI: +4.3%	-2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI	43±2.2Highest 6% above RI
	Bristol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8%	12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7%	22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7%
	Bristol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.1%Lowest RI: 37.7%	47.6%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±6.3Lowest RI: 8.3%	18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3%
	Bristol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI	$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI
	Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI	$485,000±$25kLowest 20% above RI
	Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average	$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI
	Bristol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,881Highest 20% above RI	$5,393Lowest 10% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91%±26.7Highest RI: 48%	37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest RI: 11.2%	6.5%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Highest RI: 63.6%	66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI	1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 12% below RI	25 minHighest about the RI average
Work from home	17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13%	11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13%
	Exeter and Bristol 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	#20 of 38 in RI
School district	Exeter-West Greenwich	Bristol Warren
High school in town	None in town	Mt. Hope High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.5
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.