Compare towns
Foster vs Glocester vs Preston
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 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 | Glocester | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
10,221Highest |
4,821 |
| 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. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.2±7Lowest 19% 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester 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% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Glocester 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest 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% |
4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Preston 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±$7kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Preston 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±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,417±$627Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Preston 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. |
$4,749Lowest 52% 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% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest 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 | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town |
| 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.