Compare towns
Exeter vs North Smithfield vs Windham
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 people working from home (17.2%).
North Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | North Smithfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
12,708 |
23,961Highest |
| 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. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Exeter 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. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below 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±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | North Smithfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | North Smitfield HS | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.