Compare towns
Exeter vs Glocester vs Lancaster
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).
Glocester has the most affordable homes ($397k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Glocester | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
10,221Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Lancaster 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester 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% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Lancaster 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% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Glocester 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. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Glocester 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. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Glocester 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. |
$5,248Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lancaster 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.