Compare towns
Exeter vs Mansfield vs Windham 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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Windham | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
25,358Highest |
23,961 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
33.7±1.9 13% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Exeter 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Exeter 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% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12k 10% below U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below 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. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Foster 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. |
$5,727 84% above U.S. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.