What stands out worked out from the figures below

Little Compton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Foster has the most affordable 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Little Compton	Foster
People
Population	3,584Lowest	4,523Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest RI: +4.3%	-3%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	60.3±3.7Highest 49% above RI	47.1±3Lowest 16% above RI
Kids under 18	13.5%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.8%	18.7%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8%
	Foster and Little Compton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.5%±7.3Highest RI: 18.7%	18.5%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60%Highest RI: 37.7%	36.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.1Highest RI: 8.3%	4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Little Compton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,750±$36kHighest 53% above RI	$113,646±$18kLowest 29% above RI
	Little Compton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$783,400±$82kHighest 94% above RI	$425,300±$30kLowest 5% above RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,509±$556 12% above RI
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,696Lowest 25% below RI	$7,135Highest 46% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.1%±36Highest RI: 48%	65.8%±25.5Lowest RI: 48%
	Little Compton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest RI: 11.2%	4.7%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest RI: 63.6%	91.4%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs newer than RI	1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 32% above RI	33 minLowest 30% above RI
Work from home	20.5%±5.9Highest RI: 13%	17.7%±4.9Lowest RI: 13%
	Little Compton 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	#5 of 38 in RI	#22 of 38 in RI
School district	Little Compton	Foster
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.