Compare towns

Warwick vs Exeter vs North Providence

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warwick has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

MeasureWarwickExeterNorth Providence
People
Population
83,175Highest
7,195Lowest
34,293
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.2%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+0.5%
RI: +4.3%
+6.3%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
44.3±1Highest
9% above RI
37.7±5.9Lowest
7% below RI
42.1±1.9
4% above RI
Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.6%±1.1Lowest
RI: 18.8%
19.7%±4.7Highest
RI: 18.8%
17.7%±2.3
RI: 18.8%
Exeter and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±1.2Highest
RI: 18.7%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
RI: 18.7%
20.9%±2.1
RI: 18.7%
Warwick and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.7%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
46.1%Highest
RI: 37.7%
36.9%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±0.7Lowest
RI: 8.3%
11.1%±6.3Highest
RI: 8.3%
6.2%±1.4
RI: 8.3%
Exeter and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,708±$6k
about the RI average
$111,250±$30kHighest
27% above RI
$83,756±$6kLowest
5% below RI
Exeter and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$354,600±$5kLowest
12% below RI
$509,200±$43kHighest
26% above RI
$355,900±$12k
12% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,363±$76
about the RI average
$1,317±$307Lowest
about the RI average
$1,405±$64Highest
5% above RI
North Providence and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,616Lowest
6% below RI
$5,881Highest
20% above RI
$4,843
about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.1%±6.1
RI: 48%
91%±26.7Highest
RI: 48%
42.7%±6.2Lowest
RI: 48%
Below poverty line
7.6%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
12.8%Highest
RI: 11.2%
9.3%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
RI: 63.6%
80.3%Highest
RI: 63.6%
63.9%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
1 yr older than RI
1987Highest
25 yrs newer than RI
1970
8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below RI
22 minLowest
12% below RI
27 minHighest
7% above RI
Work from home
12.4%±1.2Lowest
RI: 13%
17.2%±6.1Highest
RI: 13%
12.4%±2.5Lowest
RI: 13%
Exeter and Warwick 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 #28 of 38 in RI #14 of 38 in RI #26 of 38 in RI
School district Warwick Exeter-West Greenwich North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island
High school in town Pilgrim High School None in town North Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.5Lowest
—
12.8Highest
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.