Compare towns

Foster vs Lancaster vs Killingly vs West Greenwich

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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
West Greenwich has the most expensive homes ($535k 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.

MeasureFosterLancasterKillinglyWest Greenwich
People
Population
4,523Lowest
8,606
17,867Highest
6,647
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3Highest
21% above U.S.
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43±3.8
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%±4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and West Greenwich 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
West Greenwich 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly 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±$27k
67% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$135,625±$17kHighest
68% above U.S.
West Greenwich and Lancaster 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.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$535,400±$68kHighest
61% above U.S.
West Greenwich 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±$539
65% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,414±$206Highest
71% above U.S.
West Greenwich and Lancaster 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,491
108% 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%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±39.4
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 38 in RI #145 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 38 in RI
School district Foster Nashoba Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS The Greene School · Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town None in town None in town Killingly High School Exeter-West Greenwich Regional
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1Lowest
11.6Highest
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.