Compare towns
Coventry vs Exeter vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Coventry | Exeter | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
7,195 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5% RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 44±1.1 8% above RI |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
47.1±3Highest 16% above RI |
| Foster and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
18.7%±4.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Exeter and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2 RI: 18.7% |
| Coventry and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
36.9% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,946±$8kLowest 17% above RI |
$111,250±$30k 27% above RI |
$113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
| Foster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,200±$11kLowest 12% below RI |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,206±$155Lowest 10% below RI |
$1,317±$307 about the RI average |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
| Foster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 4% above RI |
$5,881 20% above RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1Lowest RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
65.8%±25.5 RI: 48% |
| Exeter and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 11 yrs newer than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the RI average |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
33 minHighest 30% above RI |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2Lowest RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1 RI: 13% |
17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
| Foster and Exeter 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Coventry | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.