Compare towns
Exeter vs Sutton vs Northbridge 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Sutton | Northbridge | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
9,452 |
16,458Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Northbridge 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest 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. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sutton | Northbridge | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.