Compare towns

Scituate vs Chaplin vs Windsor Locks 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

Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).

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.

MeasureScituateChaplinWindsor LocksFoster
People
Population
10,517
2,070Lowest
12,579Highest
4,523
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.9±4Highest
28% above U.S.
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
47.1±3
21% above U.S.
Scituate and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Foster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Scituate and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,315±$23k
39% above U.S.
$97,846±$14k
21% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$113,646±$18kHighest
41% above U.S.
Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$449,300±$26kHighest
35% above U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$258,800±$14k
22% below U.S.
$425,300±$30k
28% above U.S.
Scituate and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,489±$251
5% above U.S.
$1,473±$275
4% above U.S.
$1,394±$187Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,509±$556Highest
7% above U.S.
Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,265
69% above U.S.
$4,524
45% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.6%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 #17 of 38 in RI — #109 of 149 in CT #22 of 38 in RI
School district Scituate Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Windsor Locks School District Foster
High school in town Scituate High School Parish Hill High School Windsor Locks High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Highest
7.5Lowest
8.9
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.