Compare towns
Exeter vs Putnam vs Thompson vs North Smithfield
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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337 |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and North Smithfield 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thompson 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.