What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Foster	Putnam
People
Population	4,523Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Foster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Foster and Putnam 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%	18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Foster and Putnam 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.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Foster and Putnam 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.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Foster and Putnam 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 38 in RI	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Foster	Putnam School District
High school in town	None in town	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.