Compare towns
Exeter vs Thomaston 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).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Thomaston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
7,492 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.5±7.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Exeter 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Thomaston 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. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% 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 | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Lowest 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.