Compare towns
Foster vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
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 | Lancaster | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlestown and Lancaster 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% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Foster 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10kLowest 36% 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±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Charlestown and Lancaster 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,374±$134Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135 129% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6Lowest 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Nashoba | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.