Compare towns
Scituate vs Upton vs Johnston 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 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.
| Measure | Scituate | Upton | Johnston | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,517 |
8,189 |
29,835Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Johnston 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston and Scituate 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Johnston | Foster |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Blackstone Valley | Johnston Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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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.