Compare towns
Chaplin vs Exeter vs Foster vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Exeter | Foster | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
7,195Highest |
4,523 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
| Foster and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Foster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Foster and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Foster 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 | — | #14 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.