Compare towns
Foster vs Scituate vs Sutton vs Coventry
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 homeowners (91.4%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k 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.
| Measure | Foster | Scituate | Sutton | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
10,517 |
9,452 |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44±1.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Foster 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% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Coventry 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±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Foster 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. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Scituate 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Foster 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Scituate | Sutton | Coventry |
| High school in town | None in town | Scituate High School | Sutton High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.3 |
| 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.