Compare towns
Foster vs Needham 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%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Needham | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Foster 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Foster 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Glocester 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,248Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Glocester 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Needham | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.