Compare towns
Foster vs Hampton vs Union
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 expensive homes ($425k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Highest |
1,647 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest 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% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Foster and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Foster and Hampton 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | — | — |
| School district | Foster | Hampton School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.