Compare towns
Foster vs Charlestown vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Charlestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
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 | Foster | Charlestown | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
8,051Highest |
7,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 16% above RI |
53.3±2.1Highest 31% above RI |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 RI: 18.8% |
13%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Exeter and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 RI: 18.7% |
27.1%±3.5Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40.4% RI: 37.7% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
6.6%±2.7 RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
$109,404±$10kLowest 25% above RI |
$111,250±$30k 27% above RI |
| Foster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30kLowest 5% above RI |
$525,500±$57kHighest 30% above RI |
$509,200±$43k 26% above RI |
| Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
$1,374±$134 about the RI average |
$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 46% above RI |
$3,365Lowest 31% below RI |
$5,881 20% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 RI: 48% |
60.7%±20.6Lowest RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
| Exeter and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% RI: 11.2% |
4.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% RI: 63.6% |
92%Highest RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1980 18 yrs newer than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 30% above RI |
28 min 9% above RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 RI: 13% |
18.9%±3.9Highest RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Lowest RI: 13% |
| Charlestown 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #10 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Chariho | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.