Compare towns
Foster vs West Greenwich vs Glocester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
West Greenwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | West Greenwich | Glocester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
6,647 |
10,221Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+6.4%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 16% above RI |
43±3.8Lowest 6% above RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
| Glocester 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 RI: 18.8% |
19.5%±5.3 RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and West Greenwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
20.2%±4 RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Glocester and West Greenwich 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 RI: 37.7% |
34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
35.7% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 RI: 8.3% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
| Glocester 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±$18k 29% above RI |
$135,625±$17kHighest 54% above RI |
$113,508±$7kLowest 29% above RI |
| West Greenwich and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
$535,400±$68kHighest 32% above RI |
$396,500±$28kLowest about the RI average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 12% above RI |
$2,414±$206Highest 80% above RI |
$1,417±$627Lowest 6% above RI |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 46% above RI |
$6,491 32% above RI |
$5,248Lowest 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest RI: 48% |
47.5%±39.4Lowest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24 RI: 48% |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% RI: 11.2% |
2.3%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1991Highest 29 yrs newer than RI |
1975Lowest 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 30% above RI |
27 minLowest 7% above RI |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
11.5%±5Lowest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
| Foster and Glocester 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 | #19 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | The Greene School · Exeter-West Greenwich | Foster-Glocester · Glocester |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter-West Greenwich Regional | Ponaganset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.