Compare towns
Foster vs Thompson 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 expensive homes ($425k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Thompson | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
9,337Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Foster and Sterling 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Foster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Foster and Thompson 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Thompson School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.