Compare towns
Exeter vs Killingly vs Preston vs North Kingstown
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
North Kingstown has the highest household income ($126k).
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 | Preston | North Kingstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
27,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
46.2±2.4Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±1.7Lowest 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.6%Highest 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% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North Kingstown 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. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$126,293±$14kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| North Kingstown and Preston 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. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$543,700±$26kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| North Kingstown 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. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,268±$187 10% below U.S. |
| Preston and Exeter 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$6,396Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.5%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and North Kingstown 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #4 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | North Kingstown |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | North Kingstown Sr. High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.