Compare towns
Exeter vs Foster vs Upton vs North Smithfield
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).
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
North Smithfield has the most renters (22.1% rent).
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 | Upton | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
4,523Lowest |
8,189 |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Foster and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 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. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Foster 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.