Compare towns
Foster vs Sterling vs Thompson vs Scituate
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%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($449k 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 | Sterling | Thompson | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
3,629Lowest |
9,337 |
10,517Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.9±4 28% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Thompson 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scituate and Foster 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. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% 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. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$449,300±$26kHighest 35% 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. |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 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. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Sterling School District | Thompson School District | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.