Compare towns
Exeter vs Johnston vs Smithfield vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Johnston | Smithfield | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
29,835Highest |
22,233 |
8,142 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2% RI: +4.3% |
+4%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
42.7±4.1 5% above RI |
| Johnston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
22%±4.8Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Richmond 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 RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
49.5%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
7.1%±2.9 RI: 8.3% |
| Smithfield and Exeter 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 27% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$124,653±$27kHighest 42% above RI |
| Richmond 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 26% above RI |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$435,800±$22k 8% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 about the RI average |
$1,275±$132 5% below RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,580±$777Highest 18% above RI |
| Richmond and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 20% above RI |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
$6,362Highest 30% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7 RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
0%±42.9Lowest RI: 48% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
3.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
96.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
1976 14 yrs newer than RI |
1985 23 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below RI |
24 min 7% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
34 minHighest 33% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
11%±3.8 RI: 13% |
| Exeter and 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #16 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Johnston | Smithfield | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School | Chariho High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.