Compare towns
Exeter vs Charlestown 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
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Charlestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Charlestown | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
8,051Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% RI: +4.3% |
+2.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
53.3±2.1Highest 31% above RI |
47.1±3 16% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
13%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
27.1%±3.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2 RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40.4% RI: 37.7% |
36.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
6.6%±2.7 RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and Charlestown 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 27% above RI |
$109,404±$10kLowest 25% 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 | $509,200±$43k 26% above RI |
$525,500±$57kHighest 30% above RI |
$425,300±$30kLowest 5% above RI |
| Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average |
$1,374±$134 about the RI average |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 20% above RI |
$3,365Lowest 31% below RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
60.7%±20.6Lowest 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 | 12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
4.7% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
92%Highest RI: 63.6% |
91.4% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1980 18 yrs newer than RI |
1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below RI |
28 min 9% above RI |
33 minHighest 30% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest RI: 13% |
18.9%±3.9Highest RI: 13% |
17.7%±4.9 RI: 13% |
| Charlestown 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 | #10 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Chariho | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.