Compare towns
Exeter vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Hopkinton
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).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,579 |
8,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
46.1±3.9Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Windsor Locks 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% 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% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$97,172±$12k 20% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$404,300±$29k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,040±$441Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,616 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.3%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windsor Locks 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Exeter 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #11 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.