Compare towns
Exeter vs Southington 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).
Southington has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Southington | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
43,803Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| 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. |
45±1.4 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Southington 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% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Southington 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% |
21%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southington 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% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Southington 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. |
$124,309±$9kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Southington 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. |
$373,800±$10kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,472±$77 4% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Southington 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. |
$6,206 99% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Southington 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 | #51 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Southington School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Southington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.