Compare towns

Exeter vs Plainfield vs Richmond

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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Richmond has the most homeowners (96.6%).

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.

MeasureExeterPlainfieldRichmond
People
Population
7,195Lowest
15,141Highest
8,142
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
42.7±4.1Highest
10% above U.S.
Richmond 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%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Richmond and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Plainfield 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%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Richmond 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.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$124,653±$27kHighest
54% above U.S.
Richmond 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±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$435,800±$22k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,580±$777Highest
12% above U.S.
Richmond 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.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$6,362Highest
104% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±42.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Richmond 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 #131 of 149 in CT #16 of 38 in RI
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Plainfield School District Chariho
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School Chariho High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
12.7Highest
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.