Compare towns
Foster vs Exeter vs Sterling
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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
7,195Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Foster 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. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% 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±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— |
| Foster and Exeter 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. |
$4,551Lowest 46% 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% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sterling School District |
| 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 |
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.