Compare towns
Exeter vs Rowley vs North Kingstown
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
North Kingstown has the most renters (25.3% rent).
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 | Rowley | North Kingstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
6,251Lowest |
27,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.2±2.4 19% above U.S. |
| Rowley and North Kingstown 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% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Kingstown and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North Kingstown 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. |
$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$126,293±$14k 56% above U.S. |
| Rowley and North Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$543,700±$26k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,268±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rowley and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$6,396 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.5%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and North Kingstown 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #4 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Triton | North Kingstown |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Kingstown Sr. High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.