Compare towns
Glocester vs Suffield vs Thomaston 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).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Suffield | Thomaston | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,221 |
15,702Highest |
7,492 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Glocester 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Thomaston 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% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Foster 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield 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 |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.9 |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.