Compare towns
Foster vs Little Compton vs West Greenwich
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 the most expensive homes ($783k median).
West Greenwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
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 | West Greenwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
3,584Lowest |
6,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.6% RI: +4.3% |
+6.4%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 16% above RI |
60.3±3.7Highest 49% above RI |
43±3.8Lowest 6% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 RI: 18.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.5%±5.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
| West Greenwich 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 RI: 18.7% |
39.5%±7.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
20.2%±4 RI: 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% RI: 37.7% |
60%Highest RI: 37.7% |
34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 RI: 8.3% |
4.5%±2.1Highest RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest 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±$36k 53% above RI |
$135,625±$17kHighest 54% above RI |
| West Greenwich and Little Compton 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 |
$535,400±$68k 32% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Lowest 12% above RI |
— | $2,414±$206Highest 80% above RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 46% above RI |
$3,696Lowest 25% below RI |
$6,491 32% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5 RI: 48% |
76.1%±36Highest RI: 48% |
47.5%±39.4Lowest 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% RI: 11.2% |
2.3%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% RI: 63.6% |
93.8%Highest RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1969Lowest 7 yrs newer than RI |
1991Highest 29 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 30% above RI |
34 minHighest 32% above RI |
27 minLowest 7% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 RI: 13% |
20.5%±5.9Highest RI: 13% |
11.5%±5Lowest 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 | #19 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Little Compton | The Greene School · Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter-West Greenwich Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.