Compare towns

Exeter vs Glocester vs Plainville

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 people working from home (17.2%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

MeasureExeterGlocesterPlainville
People
Population
7,195Lowest
10,221
17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
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%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Plainville 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%
30%Lowest
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%
6.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Plainville 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.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% 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.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,126±$147Lowest
20% 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.
$4,798Lowest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
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%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
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.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
15% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Glocester 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 #89 of 149 in CT
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Foster-Glocester · Glocester Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town None in town Ponaganset High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.4Lowest
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.