Compare towns

Foster vs Ashford vs Glocester

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 expensive homes ($425k median).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).

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.

MeasureFosterAshfordGlocester
People
Population
4,523
4,226Lowest
10,221Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3
21% above U.S.
37.9±10.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
Glocester 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%
18.5%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Glocester and Foster 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%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Ashford 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%
35.7%
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%
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Ashford and Glocester 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.
$113,508±$7kLowest
41% 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
$396,500±$28k
19% above U.S.
Foster and Glocester 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.
$1,246±$208Lowest
12% below U.S.
$1,417±$627
about the U.S. average
Foster and Glocester 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.
$5,248Lowest
68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47%±26Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
Foster and Glocester 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
26% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7Lowest
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 #12 of 38 in RI
School district Foster Ashford School District Foster-Glocester · Glocester
High school in town None in town None in town Ponaganset High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
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.