Compare towns
Exeter vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks
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 expensive homes ($509k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Sterling | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
3,629Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Windsor Locks 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. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Sterling 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. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Exeter 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. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windsor Locks 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Exeter 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sterling School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.