What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).

North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	North Providence
People
Population	7,195Lowest	34,293Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.3%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI	42.1±1.9Highest 4% above RI
	North Providence and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8%	17.7%±2.3Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Exeter and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7%	20.9%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7%
	North Providence and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.1%Highest RI: 37.7%	36.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3%	6.2%±1.4Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Exeter and North Providence 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 27% above RI	$83,756±$6kLowest 5% below RI
	Exeter and North Providence 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	$355,900±$12kLowest 12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average	$1,405±$64Highest 5% above RI
	North Providence and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,881Highest 20% above RI	$4,843Lowest about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91%±26.7Highest RI: 48%	42.7%±6.2Lowest RI: 48%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest RI: 11.2%	9.3%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Highest RI: 63.6%	63.9%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 12% below RI	27 minHighest 7% above RI
Work from home	17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13%	12.4%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
	Exeter and North Providence 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	#26 of 38 in RI
School district	Exeter-West Greenwich	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island
High school in town	None in town	North Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.