Compare towns
Exeter vs Russell 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).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
North Kingstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Russell | North Kingstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
1,197Lowest |
27,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.7±7.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.2±2.4 19% above U.S. |
| Russell 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% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and North Kingstown 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% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Kingstown and Russell 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% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3Lowest 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±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$126,293±$14kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| North Kingstown 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±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$543,700±$26kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| North Kingstown and Exeter 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. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,268±$187 10% below U.S. |
| Exeter and North Kingstown 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. |
$5,104Lowest 64% above U.S. |
$6,396Highest 105% 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% |
42.5%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #4 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | — | North Kingstown |
| High school 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.