Compare towns
Exeter vs Pascoag vs Smithfield 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 most expensive homes ($509k median).
Pascoag has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Smithfield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
4,410Lowest |
22,233Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% RI: +4.3% |
+1.4% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
39.1±3.7 4% below RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
47.1±3Highest 16% above RI |
| Foster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±6.9Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
18.7%±4.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21%±5.1 RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2 RI: 18.7% |
| Smithfield and Pascoag 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% |
26.1%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
36.9% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 RI: 8.3% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2 RI: 8.3% |
| Smithfield and Exeter 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 |
$121,369±$34kHighest 38% above RI |
$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI |
$113,646±$18k 29% above RI |
| 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 26% above RI |
$365,000±$47kLowest 10% below RI |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 about the RI average |
$1,319±$444 about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
| 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 20% above RI |
$4,395Lowest 10% below RI |
$5,207 6% above RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
36.1%±27.4Lowest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 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%Highest RI: 11.2% |
11.4% RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% RI: 63.6% |
72.8%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1953Lowest 9 yrs older than RI |
1976 14 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below RI |
35 minHighest 39% above RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
33 min 30% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 RI: 13% |
7.4%±4.7Lowest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | — | Smithfield | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.