What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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	Hanson
People
Population	4,523Lowest	10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S.	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Foster and Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson 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%	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanson 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.	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Hanson 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.	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,509±$556Lowest 7% above U.S.	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.
	Hanson 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.	$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Foster 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 38 in RI	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Foster	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	None in town	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.7
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.