Compare towns
Foster vs Needham vs West Greenwich
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 affordable homes ($425k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
West Greenwich has the shortest commute (27 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 | Needham | West Greenwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43±3.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Foster and Needham 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% |
19.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Greenwich 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% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$135,625±$17k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$535,400±$68k 61% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,414±$206Highest 71% above U.S. |
| West Greenwich and Needham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,491Lowest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±39.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Needham | The Greene School · Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Exeter-West Greenwich Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.