Compare towns
Pascoag vs Smithfield 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
Pascoag has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Pascoag | Smithfield | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,410Lowest |
22,233Highest |
7,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 39.1±3.7 4% below RI |
41.8±2.6Highest about the RI average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
| Smithfield and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±6.9Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.1 RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Smithfield and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,369±$34kHighest 38% above RI |
$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI |
$111,250±$30k 27% above RI |
| Pascoag and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,000±$47kLowest 10% below RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,319±$444Highest about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,317±$307 about the RI average |
| Pascoag and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,395Lowest 10% below RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
$5,881Highest 20% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±27.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% RI: 11.2% |
6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
80.3% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 9 yrs older than RI |
1976 14 yrs newer than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 39% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
| Exeter and Smithfield 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Smithfield | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | — | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.