What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most kids (19.7% under 18).

Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).

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	Columbia
People
Population	7,195Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S.	51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S.
	Columbia 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 U.S.: 22%	13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Columbia 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%	24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Columbia 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S.	$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S.
	Columbia 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.	$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S.	$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Exeter and Columbia 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.	$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 15% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Columbia 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	#114 of 149 in CT
School district	Exeter-West Greenwich	Columbia School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.