Compare towns
Glocester vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Plainville | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221Highest |
9,943 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% 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% |
18.3%±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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% 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±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Foster 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 |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,248Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Lowest 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #102 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Plainville | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.