Compare towns
Pascoag vs Bethlehem 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
Pascoag has the youngest population (median age 39.1).
Bethlehem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Pascoag | Bethlehem | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,410 |
3,423Lowest |
4,523Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±3.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pascoag and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethlehem and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,369±$34kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Pascoag and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,000±$47kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Foster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,319±$444 7% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,395Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±27.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Bethlehem 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Foster |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.