Compare towns
Exeter vs Pascoag vs Putnam 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).
Pascoag has the highest household income ($121k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Pascoag | Putnam | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
4,410Lowest |
9,292Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.1±3.7 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Putnam 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% |
19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pascoag and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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. |
$121,369±$34kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Pascoag 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±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$365,000±$47k 10% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,319±$444 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Pascoag 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. |
$4,395 41% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±27.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | — | Putnam School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.