Compare towns
Scituate vs Sutton vs Putnam 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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.
| Measure | Scituate | Sutton | Putnam | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,517Highest |
9,452 |
9,292 |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Sutton | Putnam School District | Foster |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Sutton High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
12.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.