Compare towns
Scituate vs Warren vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Foster has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Warren | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,517 |
11,144Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% RI: +4.3% |
+5.1%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-3%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 23% above RI |
49±2.9 21% above RI |
47.1±3Lowest 16% above RI |
| Scituate and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.3 RI: 18.8% |
14%±2.2Lowest RI: 18.8% |
18.7%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8% |
| Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
25%±3.5 RI: 18.7% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| Scituate and Warren 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 RI: 37.7% |
36.4% RI: 37.7% |
36.9%Highest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Scituate and Warren 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 28% above RI |
$90,729±$12kLowest 3% above RI |
$113,646±$18kHighest 29% above RI |
| 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 11% above RI |
$395,700±$22kLowest about the RI average |
$425,300±$30k 5% above RI |
| 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 11% above RI |
$1,363±$96Lowest about the RI average |
$1,509±$556Highest 12% above RI |
| Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,265Lowest 7% above RI |
$5,474 12% above RI |
$7,135Highest 46% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 RI: 48% |
54.6%±9.4Lowest RI: 48% |
65.8%±25.5Highest RI: 48% |
| Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% RI: 11.2% |
9.7%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.7%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% RI: 63.6% |
61.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91.4%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 4 yrs newer than RI |
1950Lowest 12 yrs older than RI |
1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 20% above RI |
25 minLowest about the RI average |
33 minHighest 30% above RI |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest RI: 13% |
14.4%±3.3 RI: 13% |
17.7%±4.9Highest RI: 13% |
| Foster and Warren 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 | #31 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Highlander · Bristol Warren | Foster |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Highlander Secondary Charter S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
15.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.