Compare towns
Exeter vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | North Smithfield | Woonsocket | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
12,708 |
43,521Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% RI: +4.3% |
+5.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+5% RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 7% below RI |
45.5±3.9 12% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
47.1±3Highest 16% above RI |
| Foster and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 RI: 18.8% |
19.2%±3.2 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Woonsocket 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 RI: 18.7% |
20.9%±2.8Highest RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2 RI: 18.7% |
| North Smithfield 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 RI: 37.7% |
33.8% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.9% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.4%±1.3 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and Woonsocket 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 27% above RI |
$108,866±$12k 24% above RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
| 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 26% above RI |
$457,200±$21k 13% above RI |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 about the RI average |
$1,282±$531 4% below RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
| 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 20% above RI |
$5,219 7% above RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4 RI: 48% |
65.8%±25.5 RI: 48% |
| 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% RI: 11.2% |
4.8% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% RI: 63.6% |
77.9% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1972 10 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below RI |
26 min 4% above RI |
29 min 15% above RI |
33 minHighest 30% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 RI: 13% |
14.2%±3.6 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
| 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.