Compare towns
Exeter vs Union vs Hopkinton
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).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Hopkinton has the most renters (20.4% 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 | Union | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
944Lowest |
8,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.1±3.9 19% above U.S. |
| Union and Hopkinton 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Hopkinton 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$97,172±$12k 20% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$404,300±$29k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,040±$441Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,616 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.3%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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 | — | #11 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Union School District | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.