Compare towns
Exeter vs Preston 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%).
Preston has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Richmond has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Preston | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
4,821Lowest |
8,142Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.7±4.1 10% above U.S. |
| Preston and Richmond 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%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% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest 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±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$124,653±$27kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Preston 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. |
$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$435,800±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Preston 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. |
$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,362Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #16 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Preston School District | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Chariho High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.