Compare towns
Exeter vs Scituate vs Windsor Locks 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).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Scituate | Windsor Locks | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
10,517 |
12,579Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Foster 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% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate 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% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Windsor Locks 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. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Scituate 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. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Scituate 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. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Lowest 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Scituate | Windsor Locks School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Scituate High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.