Compare towns
Scituate vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor | Windsor Locks | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,517 |
29,468Highest |
12,579 |
4,523Lowest |
| 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±1.9 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% |
19.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Windsor 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% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8k 30% 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. |
$305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 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. |
$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Foster 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. |
$5,351 72% 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% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest 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% |
6.7% 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% |
82.4% 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. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #17 of 38 in RI | #117 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Windsor Locks School District | Foster |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Windsor High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
10.2 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.