What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	Russell
People
Population	7,195Highest	1,197Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S.	47.7±7.6Highest 23% above U.S.
	Russell and Exeter 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%	10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Russell 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Russell 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.	$108,750±$24kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Exeter and Russell 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.	$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Exeter and Russell 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.	$5,104Lowest 64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 15% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Russell 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	—
School district	Exeter-West Greenwich	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.