Compare towns
Exeter vs Charlestown vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.
| Measure | Exeter | Charlestown | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
8,051 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Putnam 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% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Charlestown 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. |
$525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Charlestown 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. |
$1,374±$134Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Charlestown 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. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Charlestown 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #10 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Chariho | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.