Compare towns

Foster vs Glocester vs Killingly vs Needham

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%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.

MeasureFosterGlocesterKillinglyNeedham
People
Population
4,523Lowest
10,221
17,867
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3
21% above U.S.
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6
11% 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%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Killingly 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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,646±$18k
41% above U.S.
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,300±$30k
28% above U.S.
$396,500±$28k
19% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,509±$556
7% above U.S.
$1,417±$627
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,135
129% above U.S.
$5,248
68% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
26% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 38 in RI #12 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA
School district Foster Foster-Glocester · Glocester Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Needham
High school in town None in town Ponaganset High School Killingly High School Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.1Lowest
11.9
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.