Compare towns
Exeter vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Hopkinton
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
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 | Killingly | Lancaster | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,606 |
8,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.1±3.9Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Lancaster 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±3.6Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$97,172±$12k 20% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$404,300±$29k 22% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,040±$441Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,616 80% 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% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.3%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #11 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.