Compare towns
Foster vs Washington vs Windsor Locks
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 homeowners (91.4%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Washington | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
3,676Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest 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% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks 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±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Windsor Locks 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. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Windsor Locks 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.