Compare towns
Glocester vs Woonsocket vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Woonsocket | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,221 |
43,521Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+5%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
35.7±1.3Lowest 12% below RI |
47.1±3 16% above RI |
| 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 RI: 18.8% |
23.3%±2Highest RI: 18.8% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Woonsocket 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 RI: 18.7% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2 RI: 18.7% |
| 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% RI: 37.7% |
19.8%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
36.9%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 RI: 8.3% |
5.1%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Woonsocket 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 29% above RI |
$61,059±$5kLowest 30% below RI |
$113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
| 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 about the RI average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 23% below RI |
$425,300±$30kHighest 5% above RI |
| 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 6% above RI |
$1,161±$48Lowest 13% below RI |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
| 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 7% above RI |
$3,960Lowest 19% below RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±24 RI: 48% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest RI: 48% |
65.8%±25.5Highest RI: 48% |
| 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% RI: 11.2% |
18.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% RI: 63.6% |
37.2%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
1952Lowest 10 yrs older than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 35% above RI |
29 minLowest 15% above RI |
33 min 30% above RI |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest RI: 13% |
17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Foster |
| High school in town | Ponaganset High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.