Compare towns
Barre 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
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Barre | Glocester | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
10,221 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest 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 | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 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 | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Glocester 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Quabbin | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ponaganset High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
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.