Compare towns
Foster vs Sutton vs Richmond 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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Richmond has the most kids (22% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sutton | Richmond | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,142 |
7,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.7±4.1 10% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Foster and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$124,653±$27k 54% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$435,800±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
| 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 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,362 104% above U.S. |
$5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Foster 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #16 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Sutton | Chariho | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Chariho High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.