What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Foster	Halifax
People
Population	4,523Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S.	41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Foster and Halifax 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%	22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax 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%	18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Halifax 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Halifax 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±$18kLowest 41% above U.S.	$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S.
	Halifax 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.	$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S.
	Halifax and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,509±$556Lowest 7% above U.S.	$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S.
	Halifax 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.	$6,840Lowest 119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Foster and Halifax 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%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Foster and Halifax 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	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Foster	Halifax
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.