Compare towns
Exeter vs Halifax vs Hanson vs North Smithfield
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%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Halifax | Hanson | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
7,748 |
10,660 |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Hanson 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Hanson 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% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Halifax 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. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hanson 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.