Compare towns
Foster vs Exeter vs Sterling vs Killingly
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 most expensive homes ($509k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
7,195 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| 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 |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Foster 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% |
22.9% 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% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Killingly 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±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% 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. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% 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. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% 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% |
42.8%±10.9 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older 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. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School |
| 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.