What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k median).

Ashford has the most affordable homes ($335k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Foster	Ashford
People
Population	4,523Highest	4,226Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S.	37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Foster and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Foster and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashford and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,646±$18kLowest 41% above U.S.	$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Ashford and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S.	$334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S.	$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S.
	Foster and Ashford 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.	$6,982Lowest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Foster and Ashford 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%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashford 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	#90 of 149 in CT
School district	Foster	Ashford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.