Compare towns
Foster vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Richmond
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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Richmond has the most kids (22% 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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
8,142 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.7±4.1 10% above U.S. |
| Foster and Richmond 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richmond 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±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$124,653±$27kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Richmond 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 28% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$435,800±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Foster 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,362 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #16 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Chariho High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.