Compare towns
Exeter vs Foster vs Hampton
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).
Foster has the highest household income ($114k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Foster | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
4,523 |
1,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Foster 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. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kLowest 35% 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. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Foster and Exeter 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. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster | Hampton School District |
| 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 |
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.