Compare towns
Foster vs Exeter vs Richmond
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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Foster | Exeter | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
7,195 |
8,142Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5% RI: +4.3% |
+4%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 16% above RI |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
42.7±4.1 5% above RI |
| Foster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7 RI: 18.8% |
22%±4.8Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Richmond and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Highest RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8 RI: 18.7% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| 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+ | 36.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
46.1% RI: 37.7% |
49.5%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3Highest RI: 8.3% |
7.1%±2.9 RI: 8.3% |
| Exeter and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18k 29% above RI |
$111,250±$30kLowest 27% above RI |
$124,653±$27kHighest 42% above RI |
| Richmond and Foster 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 |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$435,800±$22k 8% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 12% above RI |
$1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average |
$1,580±$777Highest 18% above RI |
| Richmond and Foster 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 |
$5,881Lowest 20% above RI |
$6,362 30% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
0%±42.9Lowest 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% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
3.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% RI: 63.6% |
80.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
96.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1985 23 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 30% above RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
34 minHighest 33% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1 RI: 13% |
11%±3.8Lowest RI: 13% |
| 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #16 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Exeter-West Greenwich | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Chariho High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.