Compare towns

Foster vs Killingly vs Exeter vs Scituate

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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

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.

MeasureFosterKillinglyExeterScituate
People
Population
4,523Lowest
17,867Highest
7,195
10,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3
21% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
49.9±4Highest
28% above U.S.
Scituate and Foster 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%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Scituate and Killingly 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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7
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.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$111,250±$30k
38% above U.S.
$112,315±$23k
39% above U.S.
Foster and Scituate 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.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$449,300±$26k
35% above U.S.
Exeter and Scituate 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.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,489±$251
5% above U.S.
Foster and Scituate 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,881
89% above U.S.
$5,265
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.6%±25.9
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%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1
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 #136 of 149 in CT #14 of 38 in RI #17 of 38 in RI
School district Foster Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Exeter-West Greenwich Scituate
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
10.8Lowest
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.