What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Foster	Washington
People
Population	4,523Highest	3,676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.1±3Lowest 21% above U.S.	49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S.
	Washington and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Washington 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%	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washington 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washington 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.	$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Foster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S.	$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S.	$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Foster and Washington 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.	$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Foster and Washington 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%	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washington 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 149 in CT
School district	Foster	Regional School District 12
High school in town	None in town	Shepaug Valley School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.