Compare towns
Exeter vs Foster vs Killingly vs Preston
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 most expensive homes ($509k median).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Killingly | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
4,523Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,821 |
| 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±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
| Foster and Preston 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Killingly 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±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston and Foster 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Preston 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% 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% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Exeter 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.