Click | Left Click | Right
Swamp Meadow covered bridge

Foster at a Glance:

Foster is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island. The town was originally settled in the 1600s by British colonists as a farming community. Foster was incorporated with Scituate, Rhode Island in 1730, forming the western section of that township, and remained part of Scituate until 1781, when it was split off as a distinct and separate township. Foster has a total area of 51.9 square miles, of which 0.7 square miles is water. Foster contains Rhode Island's highest point, Jerimoth Hill, with an elevation of 812 ft. Foster's governmental structure is composed of a five-member Town Council.

Housing Facts: 2009

Typical monthly housing payment* for a $255,000 house $1,820
Household income required to afford a $255,000 house $72,800
Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment $1,170
Household income required for that rent to be affordable $46,800
Average private-sector wage for jobs in Foster $29,120
Housing Units in Foster  
Number of year-round housing units 1,569
Housing units that quality as affordable 41
Affordable housing units reserved for the elderly 30
Affordable housing units reserved for families 0
Affordable housing units reserved for persons with special needs 11
Homes funded through Building Homes Rhode Island 0
How much housing is needed?  
Additional housing units necessary to meet the 10% threshold established by the State's Low and Moderate Income Housing Act of 2004 116

*Calculated using a 30-year mortgage at 5.04% interest (2009 average rate) with a 5.75% down payment (which includes a 3.5% down payment and a 2.25% one-time mortgage insurance fee), property taxes (the state's average rate of $14.36 per $1,000 of the home's valuation), hazard insurance ($60/month), and monthly mortgage insurance (0.6%/month).