Compare towns
Scituate vs Georgetown 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Georgetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Scituate | Georgetown | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,517Highest |
8,474 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% 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% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Foster 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% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scituate and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,315±$23kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,489±$251Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,265Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Georgetown 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #140 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Georgetown | Foster |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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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.