What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	4,523Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Foster and Lancaster 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%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster 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%	19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster 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%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Foster and Lancaster 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.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster 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.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,509±$556Lowest 7% above U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,135Lowest 129% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster 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%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 38 in RI	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Foster	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.