Compare towns
Foster vs Hampton vs Sutton vs Charlestown
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (28 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 | Hampton | Sutton | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
1,647Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Charlestown and Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Sutton 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% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlestown and Hampton 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown 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. |
$109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Charlestown and Sutton 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. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,374±$134 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Charlestown 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Charlestown 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Charlestown 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Hampton School District | Sutton | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.