Compare towns
Exeter vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville 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).
Windsor Locks has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainville | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
12,579 |
17,551Highest |
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. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Plainville 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Foster 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainville 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above 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. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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 min 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.