Compare towns
Richmond vs Union 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
Richmond has the most kids (22% under 18).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Richmond | Union | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,142Highest |
944Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±4.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Union and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richmond and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,653±$27kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $435,800±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
— | $1,509±$556Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362 104% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Richmond 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 | #16 of 38 in RI | — | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Chariho | Union School District | Foster |
| High school in town | Chariho High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.