Compare towns
Foster vs Exeter vs Killingly vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the highest household income ($114k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
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 | Exeter | Killingly | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
7,195 |
17,867Highest |
8,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10k 36% 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 | $425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,374±$134 about the U.S. 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 129% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6 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 | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.