Compare towns
Richmond vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 42.7).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Richmond | Upton | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,142 |
8,189Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±4.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Richmond 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,653±$27k 54% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Upton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $435,800±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556 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 | $6,362Lowest 104% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #16 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Chariho | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Foster |
| High school in town | Chariho High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| 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.