Compare towns
Foster vs Killingly vs Smithfield vs Richmond
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%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Richmond has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Killingly | Smithfield | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
17,867 |
22,233Highest |
8,142 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
42.7±4.1 10% above U.S. |
| Foster and Richmond 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$124,653±$27kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Richmond 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$435,800±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Richmond 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. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Richmond 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$6,362 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Smithfield 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Smithfield 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI | #16 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | Chariho High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.