What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Kingstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Exeter has the youngest population (median age 37.7).

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	North Kingstown	Exeter
People
Population	27,859Highest	7,195Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	46.2±2.4Highest 14% above RI	37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI
Kids under 18	17.8%±1.7Lowest RI: 18.8%	19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8%
	Exeter and North Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±1.9Highest RI: 18.7%	18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7%
	North Kingstown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.6%Highest RI: 37.7%	46.1%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3%	11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3%
	Exeter and North Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,293±$14kHighest 44% above RI	$111,250±$30kLowest 27% above RI
	North Kingstown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$543,700±$26kHighest 35% above RI	$509,200±$43kLowest 26% above RI
	North Kingstown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,268±$187Lowest 6% below RI	$1,317±$307Highest about the RI average
	Exeter and North Kingstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,396Highest 31% above RI	$5,881Lowest 20% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.5%±8.6Lowest RI: 48%	91%±26.7Highest RI: 48%
Below poverty line	6.1%Lowest RI: 11.2%	12.8%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.7%Lowest RI: 63.6%	80.3%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 11 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	16.7%±2.4Lowest RI: 13%	17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13%
	Exeter and North Kingstown 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	#4 of 38 in RI	#14 of 38 in RI
School district	North Kingstown	Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town	North Kingstown Sr. High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.