What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hopkinton	Exeter
People
Population	8,420Highest	7,195Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest RI: +4.3%	+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	46.1±3.9Highest 14% above RI	37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI
	Hopkinton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±3.6Lowest RI: 18.8%	19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8%
	Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.6Highest RI: 18.7%	18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Hopkinton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%	46.1%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±2.3Lowest RI: 8.3%	11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3%
	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	$97,172±$12kLowest 11% above RI	$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI
	Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,300±$29kLowest about the RI average	$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$441Lowest 23% below RI	$1,317±$307Highest about the RI average
	Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,616Lowest 15% above RI	$5,881Highest 20% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.3%±17.5Lowest RI: 48%	91%±26.7Highest RI: 48%
	Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest RI: 11.2%	12.8%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%	80.3%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 15 yrs newer than RI	1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the RI average	22 minLowest 12% below RI
Work from home	14.4%±6.1Lowest RI: 13%	17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13%
	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	#11 of 38 in RI	#14 of 38 in RI
School district	Chariho	Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.