Compare towns
Exeter vs Putnam vs Thompson 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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Putnam | Thompson | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
8,142 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.7±4.1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest 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% |
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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$435,800±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,362Highest 104% 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% |
0%±42.9Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest 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. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| 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% |
11%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Thompson 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 | #16 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Chariho High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.