Compare towns
Foster vs Plainfield vs Thompson
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 expensive homes ($425k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Plainfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Foster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Foster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Thompson 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.