Compare towns
Foster vs Smithfield vs Scituate 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%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Smithfield | Scituate | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
22,233Highest |
10,517 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Foster 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Foster and Scituate 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Scituate and Smithfield 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Smithfield | Scituate | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Scituate High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.