What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Smithfield
People
Population	4,523Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	47.1±3Highest 16% above RI	41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average
	Foster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8%	16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%
	Foster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7%	21.1%±2.1Highest RI: 18.7%
	Smithfield 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%Lowest RI: 37.7%	40%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3%	16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI	$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI
	Foster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,300±$30kLowest 5% above RI	$446,400±$12kHighest 10% above RI
	Smithfield 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 12% above RI	$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI
	Foster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,135Highest 46% above RI	$5,207Lowest 6% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±25.5Highest RI: 48%	57.1%±17.7Lowest RI: 48%
	Foster and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2%	6.2%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest RI: 63.6%	81.6%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI	1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 30% above RI	25 minLowest 4% below RI
Work from home	17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13%	14%±3.1Lowest RI: 13%
	Foster and Smithfield 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	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Foster	Smithfield
High school in town	None in town	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.