Compare towns
Foster vs Johnston vs Glocester vs Sterling
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 people working from home (17.7%).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Johnston | Glocester | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
29,835Highest |
10,221 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Glocester and Foster 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% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Johnston 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% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Glocester 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. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester 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. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester 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. |
$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Foster and Glocester 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. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Glocester 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Glocester 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Johnston | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Johnston Senior High | Ponaganset High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.