Compare towns
Exeter vs Douglas vs Windsor Locks 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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Exeter | Douglas | Windsor Locks | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
9,207 |
12,579Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Windsor Locks 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Douglas 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. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Douglas 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. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Windsor Locks 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Douglas | Windsor Locks School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— |
| 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.