Compare towns
Foster vs Lancaster vs Scituate vs Glocester
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 homeowners (91.4%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Scituate has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Glocester has the most affordable homes ($397k 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.
| Measure | Foster | Lancaster | Scituate | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
8,606 |
10,517Highest |
10,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.9±4 28% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Scituate 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Lancaster 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% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Glocester 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% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Glocester and Scituate 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. |
$112,315±$23kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% 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±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Scituate 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. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627Lowest 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. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$5,248Lowest 68% 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% |
59.6%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #17 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Nashoba | Scituate | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Scituate High School | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.