Compare towns
Foster vs Pomfret vs Putnam vs Sterling
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 people working from home (17.7%).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Pomfret | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
4,317 |
9,292Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret 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. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Foster and Pomfret 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. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Foster and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Foster and Pomfret 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Pomfret 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Pomfret 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Pomfret School District | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.