Compare towns
Foster vs Ashford vs Charlestown
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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Charlestown has the most expensive homes ($526k 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 | Ashford | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
4,226Lowest |
8,051Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Ashford 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. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10kLowest 36% 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±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,374±$134 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Charlestown 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. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6 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 | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #90 of 149 in CT | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Ashford School District | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.