Compare towns

Exeter vs Hampton vs Killingly 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 most expensive homes ($509k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Foster has the highest household income ($114k).

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.

MeasureExeterHamptonKillinglyFoster
People
Population
7,195
1,647Lowest
17,867Highest
4,523
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
51.5±5.3Highest
32% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
47.1±3
21% above U.S.
Hampton 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%
19.7%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly 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%
26.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Killingly 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.
$109,167±$19k
35% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$113,646±$18kHighest
41% above U.S.
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
53% above U.S.
$295,800±$27k
11% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$425,300±$30k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,285±$288
9% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,509±$556Highest
7% above 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.
$4,364
40% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±51.5
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
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%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 38 in RI — #136 of 149 in CT #22 of 38 in RI
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Hampton School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Foster
High school in town None in town None in town Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
—
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.