Compare towns
Foster vs Putnam vs Scituate 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 people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Scituate | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
9,292 |
10,517Highest |
10,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4 28% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Scituate 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Glocester 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Glocester and Scituate 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. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$449,300±$26kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Foster 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Scituate 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. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% 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% |
59.6%±25.9 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Scituate 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #17 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Putnam School District | Scituate | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Scituate High School | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.8 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.