The Town FilesExeter, Rhode Island
Town in Washington County · population 6,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $509,200
- Household income
- $111,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 37.7
Exeter is a town of 6,460 people in Washington County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $509,200, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks more of a college town than 90% of Rhode Island towns, easier by car than 88% of Rhode Island towns, better for retirees than 86% of Rhode Island towns.
How Exeter ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Exeter is worth $509,200, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $111,250, which is more affordable than 40% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,317 a month. 80.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Exeter | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $509,200 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,317 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $111,250 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 80.3% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Exeter
| People | Exeter | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.1% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 17.2% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in Exeter
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 53.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Exeter since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on November 13, 2021 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 1998.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4765: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 14, 2023 | Fire | FM-5464: Queens River Fire |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 59,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Exeter itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Exeter
2 public schools with 762 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metcalf School | 2-6 | 559 | 13.0 |
| Wawaloam School | K-1 | 203 | 11.3 |
Towns near Exeter
- West Greenwich, RI4.4 mi · 6,528 people · home $535,400
- Richmond, RI5.6 mi · 8,020 people · home $435,800
- East Greenwich, RI8.0 mi · 14,312 people · home $671,700
- Kingston, RI8.5 mi · 7,825 people · home $553,400
- Coventry, RI9.1 mi · 35,688 people · home $356,200
- Hopkinton, RI9.2 mi · 8,398 people · home $404,300
- North Kingstown, RI9.2 mi · 27,732 people · home $543,700
- West Warwick, RI9.4 mi · 31,012 people · home $330,800
Exeter questions
Is Exeter, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Exeter scores better for retirees than 86% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 67%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Exeter?
The median owner-occupied home in Exeter is valued at $509,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,250, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,317 a month.
What is the weather like in Exeter?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Exeter get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Exeter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on November 13, 2021. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)