Compare towns

Glocester vs Thomaston vs Suffield 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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
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.

MeasureGlocesterThomastonSuffieldFoster
People
Population
10,221
7,492
15,702Highest
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.
41.5±7.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.5±1.7
14% 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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2Lowest
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%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±2.2Lowest
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%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2
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.
$103,218±$15kLowest
28% above U.S.
$119,472±$13kHighest
48% 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.
$282,600±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$407,500±$26k
22% above 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
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,424±$141
about the U.S. average
$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.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
$6,456
107% above U.S.
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
57.9%±22
U.S.: 51.1%
51%±4.6Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1Highest
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 #106 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT #22 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Thomaston School District Suffield School District Foster
High school in town Ponaganset High School Thomaston High School Suffield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.7Lowest
10.9
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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.