Compare towns
Foster vs Hanson 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 most affordable homes ($425k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Hanson | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
10,660Highest |
8,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10kLowest 36% 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. |
$525,500±$57k 58% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,374±$134Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6Lowest 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlestown and Foster 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Whitman-Hanson | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
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| 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.