Compare towns
Exeter vs Wauregan 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).
Wauregan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.7%).
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 | Wauregan | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
1,049Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
32±5.9Lowest 18% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±9.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wauregan 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% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Exeter 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% |
18.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest 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. |
$79,545±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$262,700±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,254±$476Lowest 11% 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. |
$3,649Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below 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% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Exeter 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.