Compare towns
Exeter vs Foster vs Woonsocket vs North Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Woonsocket | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
4,523Lowest |
43,521Highest |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 7% below RI |
47.1±3Highest 16% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
45.5±3.9 12% above RI |
| Foster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 RI: 18.8% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2 RI: 18.8% |
| Woonsocket 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 RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8Highest RI: 18.7% |
| North Smithfield and Foster 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 RI: 37.7% |
36.9% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
33.8% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and Woonsocket 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 27% above RI |
$113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$108,866±$12k 24% above RI |
| 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 26% above RI |
$425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$457,200±$21k 13% above RI |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 about the RI average |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
| 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 20% above RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
65.8%±25.5 RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
| 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% RI: 11.2% |
4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% RI: 63.6% |
91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
77.9% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below RI |
33 minHighest 30% above RI |
29 min 15% above RI |
26 min 4% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 RI: 13% |
17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6 RI: 13% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.