Compare towns
Ashby vs Glocester vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Ashby | Glocester | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
10,221 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Smithfield 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | North Middlesex | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.