Compare towns

Glocester vs Thomaston vs Windsor Locks 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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.

MeasureGlocesterThomastonWindsor LocksFoster
People
Population
10,221
7,492
12,579Highest
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±7.7
7% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% 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%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
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%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%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%
5.5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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±$15k
28% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$282,600±$23k
15% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below 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
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$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.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% 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%±22Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
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
22 minLowest
17% 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%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 38 in RI #106 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #22 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Thomaston School District Windsor Locks School District Foster
High school in town Ponaganset High School Thomaston High School Windsor Locks High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.7
8.9Lowest
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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.