Compare towns
Exeter vs Foster vs Harvard
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 most affordable homes ($425k median).
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Foster | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
4,523Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Foster and Harvard 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard 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% |
18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Foster and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Harvard 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.