Compare towns
Exeter vs Griswold 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 most people working from home (17.2%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Griswold | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
11,530Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Putnam 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. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Griswold 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. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Griswold 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. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Griswold 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% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Griswold 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Griswold School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Griswold High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.