Compare towns
Glocester vs Barre vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Glocester | Barre | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221Highest |
5,572 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248 68% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #134 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Quabbin | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.