Compare towns
Charlestown vs Sutton vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Charlestown | Sutton | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,051 |
9,452Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,404±$10kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Charlestown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$134 about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Charlestown 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 | #10 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Chariho | Sutton | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.