Compare towns
Exeter vs Wilbraham vs Plainfield 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).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Wilbraham | Plainfield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
14,572 |
15,141Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Wilbraham 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% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 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. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plainfield School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.