Compare towns
Foster vs Colebrook vs Sterling
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 people working from home (17.7%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Colebrook | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colebrook 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Foster 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% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Foster and Colebrook 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. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Foster and Colebrook 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. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Colebrook 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Sterling 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Colebrook School District | Sterling School District |
| 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.