Compare towns
North Kingstown vs Warwick vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Kingstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
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.
| Measure | North Kingstown | Warwick | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,859 |
83,175Highest |
7,195Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 46.2±2.4Highest 14% above RI |
44.3±1 9% above RI |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
| North Kingstown and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±1.7 RI: 18.8% |
17.6%±1.1Lowest 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% |
21.6%±1.2 RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| North Kingstown and Warwick 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% |
33.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
46.1% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.5 RI: 8.3% |
5.6%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$88,708±$6kLowest about the RI average |
$111,250±$30k 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 |
$354,600±$5kLowest 12% below RI |
$509,200±$43k 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 |
$1,363±$76Highest about the RI average |
$1,317±$307 about the RI average |
| Warwick and Exeter 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 |
$4,616Lowest 6% below RI |
$5,881 20% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.5%±8.6Lowest RI: 48% |
53.1%±6.1 RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
7.6% RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% RI: 63.6% |
73.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 11 yrs newer than RI |
1961Lowest 1 yr older than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the RI average |
25 min 4% below RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
| Work from home | 16.7%±2.4 RI: 13% |
12.4%±1.2Lowest 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 | #28 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Kingstown | Warwick | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | North Kingstown Sr. High | Pilgrim High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.