Compare towns
Foster vs Hopkinton vs Killingly vs Exeter
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 most homeowners (91.4%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k 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 | Hopkinton | Killingly | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
8,420 |
17,867Highest |
7,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.1±3.9 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Foster and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 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% |
19.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton 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. |
$97,172±$12k 20% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% 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. |
$404,300±$29k 22% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,040±$441Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 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. |
$5,616 80% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.3%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 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 | #11 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Chariho | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| 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.