Compare towns
Exeter vs Glocester vs Sterling vs Foster
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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Glocester | Sterling | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
10,221Highest |
3,629Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Foster 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Glocester 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% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% 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% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 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±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster 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±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster 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. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Sterling School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.