Compare towns
Bristol vs Glocester vs Killingly 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
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Bristol | Glocester | Killingly | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,220 |
10,221Lowest |
17,867 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 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 | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #20 of 38 in RI | #12 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Ponaganset High School | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.