Compare towns
Foster vs Little Compton vs Charlestown
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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Little Compton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
3,584Lowest |
8,051Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.6%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.2% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Lowest 16% above RI |
60.3±3.7Highest 49% above RI |
53.3±2.1 31% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
13.5%±3.8 RI: 18.8% |
13%±3.3Lowest 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% |
27.1%±3.5 RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
60%Highest RI: 37.7% |
40.4% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.5%±2.1 RI: 8.3% |
6.6%±2.7Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Charlestown and Little Compton 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 29% above RI |
$134,750±$36kHighest 53% above RI |
$109,404±$10kLowest 25% 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 |
$525,500±$57k 30% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
— | $1,374±$134Lowest about the RI average |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 46% above RI |
$3,696 25% below RI |
$3,365Lowest 31% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 RI: 48% |
76.1%±36Highest RI: 48% |
60.7%±20.6Lowest 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% |
4.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
93.8%Highest RI: 63.6% |
92% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1969Lowest 7 yrs newer than RI |
1980Highest 18 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 30% above RI |
34 minHighest 32% above RI |
28 minLowest 9% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Lowest RI: 13% |
20.5%±5.9Highest RI: 13% |
18.9%±3.9 RI: 13% |
| Little Compton and Charlestown 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 | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Little Compton | 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 |
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.