Compare towns

Exeter vs Glocester vs Plainfield vs Hopkinton

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 expensive homes ($509k median).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureExeterGlocesterPlainfieldHopkinton
People
Population
7,195Lowest
10,221
15,141Highest
8,420
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.1±3.9
19% above U.S.
Glocester and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Glocester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Hopkinton 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%
35.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Hopkinton 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.
$113,508±$7kHighest
41% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$97,172±$12k
20% above U.S.
Glocester 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.
$396,500±$28k
19% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$404,300±$29k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,040±$441Lowest
26% below U.S.
Glocester 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.
$5,248
68% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$5,616
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.3%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Glocester 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Hopkinton 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 #12 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT #11 of 38 in RI
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Foster-Glocester · Glocester Plainfield School District Chariho
High school in town None in town Ponaganset High School Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
10.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.