Compare towns
Exeter vs Ayer vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Exeter | Ayer | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
8,645Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% 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 | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 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 | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Ayer Shirley School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.