Compare towns

Exeter vs Killingly vs Charlestown

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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).

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.

MeasureExeterKillinglyCharlestown
People
Population
7,195Lowest
17,867Highest
8,051
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
53.3±2.1Highest
37% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Charlestown 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.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$109,404±$10k
36% above U.S.
Exeter and Charlestown 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.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$525,500±$57kHighest
58% above U.S.
Charlestown 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.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,374±$134Highest
about the U.S. average
Charlestown 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,365Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.7%±20.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Charlestown 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%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Charlestown and Exeter 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 #136 of 149 in CT #10 of 38 in RI
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Chariho
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.