Compare towns
Foster vs Glocester vs Hanson 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%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Glocester | Hanson | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
10,221 |
10,660Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Hanson 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% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Hanson 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— |
| Hanson and Foster 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. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Foster 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Whitman-Hanson | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.