Compare towns
Exeter vs Foster vs Mendon
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
4,523Lowest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Foster and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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% |
46.9%Highest 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% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mendon 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. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Foster 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. |
$7,213Highest 131% 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% |
78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mendon 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest 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 | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster | Mendon-Upton |
| 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.