Compare towns

Exeter vs Brookfield vs South Kingstown

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 most kids (19.7% under 18).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
South Kingstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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.

MeasureExeterBrookfieldSouth Kingstown
People
Population
7,195
3,460Lowest
32,073Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
38.9±2.2
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and South Kingstown 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%
28.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and South Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
22.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$81,250±$37kLowest
about the U.S. average
$108,960±$10k
35% above U.S.
Exeter and South Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$509,200±$43k
53% above U.S.
$341,900±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
$560,200±$22kHighest
68% above U.S.
South Kingstown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,014±$161Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,368±$194Highest
3% below U.S.
South Kingstown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$5,092Lowest
63% above U.S.
$5,338
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.7%±11.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±11
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and South Kingstown 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 #109 of 282 in MA #9 of 38 in RI
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Brookfield Kingston Hill Academy · The Compass School
High school in town None in town None in town South Kingstown High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.8
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.