Compare towns
Exeter vs Mansfield vs Hampton 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 expensive homes ($509k median).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
North Smithfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Hampton | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
25,358Highest |
1,647Lowest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Mansfield 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. |
$5,727 84% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Hampton School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.