Compare towns
Exeter vs Quinebaug 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Foster has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Quinebaug | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
1,193Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Foster 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$105,181±$36kLowest 30% above 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. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Foster 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 | — | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | — | Foster |
| High school 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.