Compare towns

Exeter vs Woonsocket vs West Greenwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
West Greenwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).

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.

MeasureExeterWoonsocketWest Greenwich
People
Population
7,195
43,521Highest
6,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+5%
RI: +4.3%
+6.4%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
37.7±5.9
7% below RI
35.7±1.3Lowest
12% below RI
43±3.8Highest
6% above RI
West Greenwich and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.7
RI: 18.8%
23.3%±2Highest
RI: 18.8%
19.5%±5.3Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Woonsocket and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±3.8
RI: 18.7%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
RI: 18.7%
20.2%±4Highest
RI: 18.7%
West Greenwich 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
RI: 37.7%
19.8%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
34.7%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3Highest
RI: 8.3%
5.1%±0.9
RI: 8.3%
3.1%±1.9Lowest
RI: 8.3%
Exeter and Woonsocket 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
27% above RI
$61,059±$5kLowest
30% below RI
$135,625±$17kHighest
54% above RI
West Greenwich 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
26% above RI
$311,000±$15kLowest
23% below RI
$535,400±$68kHighest
32% above RI
West Greenwich and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$307
about the RI average
$1,161±$48Lowest
13% below RI
$2,414±$206Highest
80% above RI
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,881
20% above RI
$3,960Lowest
19% below RI
$6,491Highest
32% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
RI: 48%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
RI: 48%
47.5%±39.4
RI: 48%
Exeter and West Greenwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.8%
RI: 11.2%
18.7%Highest
RI: 11.2%
2.3%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
RI: 63.6%
37.2%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
87.3%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
25 yrs newer than RI
1952Lowest
10 yrs older than RI
1991Highest
29 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
12% below RI
29 minHighest
15% above RI
27 min
7% above RI
Work from home
17.2%±6.1Highest
RI: 13%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
RI: 13%
11.5%±5
RI: 13%
Exeter and West Greenwich 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 #37 of 38 in RI #19 of 38 in RI
School district Exeter-West Greenwich RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket The Greene School · Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School Exeter-West Greenwich Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

RI 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.