Compare towns
Foster vs Georgetown 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 affordable homes ($425k median).
Georgetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Georgetown | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
8,474Highest |
8,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown 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% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown 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±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Georgetown 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±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$525,500±$57k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,374±$134Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Georgetown and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135 129% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Georgetown 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Georgetown | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.