Town · Rhode Island
Exeter, Rhode Island
Exeter, town, in Washington County, Rhode Island. Exeter had 6,540 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,460 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 7,195 (±228). GEOID 4400925300.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,540
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,460 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,195 ±228
Median household income
$111,250
±$29,727 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $87,796
Median home value
$509,200
±$42,549 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $404,200
Median gross rent
$1,317
±$307 (90% margin)
Rhode Island: $1,342
Where is Exeter and what county is it in?
Exeter is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island. It covers 57.5 square miles of land, 112 residents per square mile in 2020.
Exeter is in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Exeter is the same area as Census Tract 505 of Washington County: the tract's figures are Exeter's own.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Exeter, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,540 people lived in Exeter on July 1, 2025, up 1.2% since 2020, in line with Rhode Island (+1.6%). The 2020 Census counted 6,460 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 7,195 (±228).
| Measure | Exeter | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,195±228 | 130,344 | +531 |
| Households | 2,416±231 | 52,549 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.80±0.28 | 2.34 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,528±226 | 66,385 | no clear change |
Exeter's population since 2000
From 6,045 in 2000 to 6,540 in 2025: up 8.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Exeter as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Exeter?
The median resident of Exeter is 37.7 years old; 19.7% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.7%. 7.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Exeter | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 | 45.5 | −6.8 |
| Under 18 years | 19.7%±3.4 pts | 15.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.2%±3.1 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Male | 53.9%±3.0 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.7%±3.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.9%±4.6 pts | 88.9% | −7.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.8%±1.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±1.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.9%±3.6 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.6%±4.3 pts | 5.0% | +4.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.2%±5.6 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.2%±2.8 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 7.7%±3.3 pts | 10.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.8%±1.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.4%±7.0 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 46.1%±8.5 pts | 52.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.5%±5.7 pts | 23.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.4%±3.0 pts | 91.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6%±1.5 pts | 2.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Exeter earn?
Half of Exeter's 2,416 households earn less than $111,250 a year (±$29,727), against $106,638 in Washington County and $87,796 in Rhode Island. In 2015-2019 it was $104,509 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Exeter | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $111,250±$29,727 | $106,638 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $133,874±$19,607 | $136,741 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,201±$7,179 | $56,069 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.8%±6.1 pts | 8.2% | +8.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.4%±12.2 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.3%±5.2 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.0%±3.4 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.0%±3.4 pts | 94.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Exeter?
Owners occupy 80.3% of Exeter's occupied homes and renters 19.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $509,200 by its owner (±$42,549). The median renter pays $1,317 a month including utilities, and 91.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Exeter | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $509,200±$42,549 | $510,800 | +$94,702 |
| Median gross rent | $1,317±$307 | $1,327 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 91.0%±16.3 pts | 42.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,289±$174 | $2,364 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.3%±8.4 pts | 77.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.7%±8.4 pts | 22.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,528±226 | 66,385 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±10.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.2%±8.1 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.1%±4.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3%±2.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.1%±3.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.3%±4.1 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.8%±2.5 pts | 4.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Exeter building?
Builders took permits for 9 new housing units in Exeter in 2025 (9 in single-family houses), 1.4 per 1,000 residents against 1.6 across Rhode Island.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Exeter work and get to work?
76.6% of Exeter's workers drive alone and 17.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.4 minutes.
| Measure | Exeter | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1%±5.9 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.0%±1.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.6%±7.5 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 2.8%±2.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 2.8%±3.7 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.2%±6.1 pts | 15.3% | +8.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.4 min±2.2 | 26.0 min | −5.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Exeter?
1 census tract lies mostly in Exeter (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 505Washington County | 7,195 | $111,250 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Exeter) · Census block assignment files
How does Exeter compare with other places in Rhode Island?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Exeter is the 1,830th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 27th-most populous of 31 in Rhode Island.
Exeter ranks 18th of 57 places in Rhode Island with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 27th | 31 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 23rd | 39 |
| Residents per square mile | 56th | 57 |
| Median household income | 18th | 57 |
| Per capita income | 38th | 57 |
| Median home value | 17th | 56 |
| Median gross rent | 29th | 51 |
| Poverty rate | 8th | 45 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20th | 57 |
| Median age | 49th | 57 |
| Owner-occupied share | 24th | 56 |
| Work from home | 10th | 49 |
| Travel time to work | 51st | 57 |
Exeter's figures with every place in Rhode Island (CSV)
Every place in Rhode Island, sortable · Compare Exeter with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Exeter?
18 of the 57 figures for Exeter on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Exeter are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.