Compare towns
Exeter vs Richmond vs Thompson
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%).
Richmond has the most homeowners (96.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Richmond | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
8,142 |
9,337Highest |
| 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. |
42.7±4.1 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$124,653±$27kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$435,800±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below 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. |
$6,362Highest 104% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #16 of 38 in RI | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Chariho | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Chariho High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.