Compare towns
Glocester vs Lawrence 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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221 |
88,736Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Foster 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% |
16.8%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%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below 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±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Foster and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$627Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Lawrence and Foster 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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Lawrence | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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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.