Compare towns
Bristol vs Glocester vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Bristol | Glocester | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,220 |
10,221Lowest |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.3% RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 43±2.2 6% above RI |
50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI |
41.8±2.6Lowest about the RI average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7% |
22.2%±3.4 RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.7% |
| 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 RI: 37.7% |
35.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9 RI: 8.3% |
| 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±$8kLowest 11% above RI |
$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI |
$102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
| 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 20% above RI |
$396,500±$28kLowest about the RI average |
$446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,417±$627 6% above RI |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
| 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 10% above RI |
$5,248 7% above RI |
$5,207Lowest 6% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48% |
64.5%±24Highest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
| 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%Highest RI: 11.2% |
4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
91%Highest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1975 13 yrs newer than RI |
1976Highest 14 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the RI average |
34 minHighest 35% above RI |
25 minLowest 4% below RI |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13% |
13.1%±4.7 RI: 13% |
14%±3.1Highest RI: 13% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Ponaganset High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.