Compare towns
Exeter vs Windham vs Mansfield 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Windham | Mansfield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
23,961 |
25,358Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
33.7±1.9 13% below U.S. |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$72,393±$12k 10% below U.S. |
$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. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Foster 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. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$5,727 84% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #143 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.