Compare towns
Exeter vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Lancaster | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
8,606Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Nashoba | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.