Compare towns
Exeter vs Roxbury 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Roxbury has the most expensive homes ($715k median).
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Roxbury | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
2,185Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
54.7±1.8Highest 41% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4Lowest 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% |
31%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$123,864±$27kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Roxbury 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±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$714,500±$77kHighest 115% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,713±$418Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,591 111% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±48.3Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Roxbury 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 | Regional School District 12 | Foster |
| High school in town | None 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.