Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Upton 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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Hampton | Upton | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
1,647Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%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. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest 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% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Foster 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±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% 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. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.