Compare towns
Foster vs Little Compton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Little Compton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Little Compton |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 4,523Highest |
3,584Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Lowest 16% above RI |
60.3±3.7Highest 49% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Foster and Little Compton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
39.5%±7.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
60%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.5%±2.1Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Little Compton 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±$18kLowest 29% above RI |
$134,750±$36kHighest 53% above RI |
| Little Compton 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 5% above RI |
$783,400±$82kHighest 94% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 12% above RI |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 46% above RI |
$3,696Lowest 25% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Lowest RI: 48% |
76.1%±36Highest RI: 48% |
| Little Compton 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 RI: 11.2% |
2.9%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
93.8%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1969Lowest 7 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 30% above RI |
34 minHighest 32% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Lowest RI: 13% |
20.5%±5.9Highest RI: 13% |
| Little Compton and Foster 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 | #5 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Little Compton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.