Compare towns
Foster vs Georgetown vs Scituate 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 homeowners (91.4%).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Scituate has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Georgetown | Scituate | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
8,474 |
10,517Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Scituate 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% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Sterling 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% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scituate 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. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% 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±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,489±$251Lowest 5% above U.S. |
— |
| 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. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Scituate 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Georgetown 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #17 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Georgetown | Scituate | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Georgetown High School | Scituate High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.