Compare towns

Foster vs Franklin 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 people working from home (17.7%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureFosterFranklinGlocester
People
Population
4,523
2,004Lowest
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.
40.3±4.3Lowest
4% above U.S.
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%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Franklin and Glocester 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%
17.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester 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%
27.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Glocester and Franklin 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.
$105,000±$10kLowest
30% above U.S.
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
Foster and Glocester 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.
$326,200±$20kLowest
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.
$767±$529Lowest
46% 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.
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,248
68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
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%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
26% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Foster and Glocester 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 — #12 of 38 in RI
School district Foster Franklin 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.