Compare towns
Foster vs Johnston vs Ogunquit vs Scituate
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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scituate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
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 | Ogunquit | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
29,835Highest |
1,379Lowest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.9±4 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Foster and Johnston 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% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Ogunquit 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. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
| Foster and Scituate 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Scituate 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | — | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Johnston | — | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.8Highest |
| 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.